Freedom Hunters recently hosted a group of 11 veterans, including eight that served in
combat. The group arrived on a Sunday night and enjoyed a tasty dinner while enjoying
each other’s company. Then it was up early at oh dark thirty for the safety briefing and a
duck hunt.

“Patriot Point is a perfect place for veterans to visit and also be able to relax and ease
the mind,” said Tom Deoudes, regional director for Freedom Hunters. “It is also an
incredible place for duck hunting. When you combine the two with eleven great warriors,
you have a fantastic event.

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“Hugh and Joy were great hosts and did everything they could to see that all had a
wonderful time. Freedom Hunters is always honored to accept Patriot Point’s generous
invites. It is ‘the perfect veterans retreat.’  Freedom Hunters couldn’t find a better partner
to help to honor and thank the service and sacrifice of our great nation’s military men
and women.”

Freedom Hunters recently brought two groups of veterans to Patriot Point.

One group included two retired Marines, three Navy veterans, two Army veterans (one who had received a Purple Heart) and another solider who served in the Army National Guard.

“Many warriors have said that having time to spend with fellow vets on a retreat or out in the field, or even enjoying the comraderie and banter of a chilly early morning in a duck blind is better medicine than they could ever receive from the VA,” said Tom Deoudes, regional director for Freedom Hunters. “That being said, there is no place better to get that prescription filled than at Patriot Point.”

The group enjoyed dinner and relaxing by the fire the night before an early-morning duck hunt.

“All went home with plenty of duck for the freezer and a fantastic life’s memory,” Deoudes said. “Best of all, new friendships were made. Freedom Hunters is extremely proud to partner with Patriot Point and the owners and staff, with a common mission to thank and honor all those who have served and sacrificed.”

Similarly, the second group of eight guests also enjoyed dinner and a fire the night before heading out for the hunt at zero-dark-thirty.

“They were up for the challenge and there was a lot of cleaning needed,” Deoudes said.

“What an awesome time!” one of the guests said. “Thank you for all you do for us vets and for Freedom Hunters. It was an opportunity that I’ll reminisce back on for quite a while.”

Freedom Hunters recently hosted a group of service members for a hunt at Patriot Point.

“We had every service represented except for Air Force, many of them decorated,” said Tom Deoudes, regional director for Freedom Hunters.

The guests had received three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and a couple Bronze Stars, Deoudes said.

The group relaxed watching football the night before the hunt, then headed out early the next morning for a hunt.

The Maryland chapter of Freedom Hunters brought seven retired and active-duty service members from Maryland and Delaware to Patriot Point this past weekend for a dove hunt. All of the guests served for more than 10 years and enjoyed a wonderful weekend at the property.

Tom Deoudes, outreach coordinator for the chapter, said that the service members thanked him for arranging the visit. Deoudes also shared a thank you note from a service member who visited Patriot Point last fall:

Trips like today truly mean more than you could ever imagine to us. Patriot Point is the epitome of giving back to service men and woman by providing an environment of true friendship, sportsmanship and relaxation to all veterans.