2019 Department of Defense Legacy Awards

Arizona Army National Guard located in Arizona will be creating an educational history of the city of Mesa, Arizona, and the Arizona Army National Guard to engage community members through a historical lens and perform restoration projects in the surrounding area.

Fort Bragg Endangered Species Branch located in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, plans to develop a wildlife and culturally significant native plants garden at the Fort Bragg Hunting and Fishing Center. The purpose of this garden will be to provide local military personnel, civilian, and native tribal communities with a self-guided interpretative area demonstrating some of the cultural values and history of these plants through the use of interpretive signage.

Public Works Department NSA Hampton Roads located in Norfolk, Virginia, plans to update their existing pollinator garden to plant native pollinator species, mulch, and build upon the garden at Portsmouth Annex to ensure a healthy and vibrant habitat for pollinators and our military patrons to visit.

The project will plant native vegetation and establish oyster gardening practices to include oyster castles in an effort to positively influence the Lafayette River ecosystem, a target river for the Chesapeake Bay Program in an attempt to accomplish the revitalization of an overgrown pollinator garden and to help stabilize an eroding shoreline while providing suitable habitat for oysters and other marine life along the shore.

NAVFAC Hawaii located in Hickam Field, Hawaii, have proposed an educational program and restoration project for the Loko Paaiau fishpond to identify and remove invasive plant species in the area selected for a traditional Hawaiian structure, construct a stone foundation for the traditional Hawaiian housing structure and to remove approximately 8345 pounds of trash (3785 kg). The educational program will ensure long-term preservation and cultural knowledge.

Fort Belvoir Directorate of Public Works located in Fairfax County, Virginia, works to preserve cultural resources for future study and public education. They will host an event performing restoration and trail maintenance on the Belvoir Manor site trails.

DoD/MCIEast/MCB Camp Lejeune/G-F/EMD/ECON located in North Carolina will host an event to perform critical habitat restoration and natural disaster clean-ups in the Pollock’s Point Wildlife Viewing Area to provide the public with an enjoyable place to learn and recreate.

733d Civil Engineer Division, Environmental Element located in Fort Eustis, Virginia, will host an event with a major focus on trail building, extending their current trail by 100 feet.

Fort Drum Military Installation located in Fort Drum, New York, will host a dual purpose event with the effort of restoring the historical landscape of the LeRay Mansion Natural and Cultural Resources district and creating a community space for soldiers.

Camp Ripley, Minnesota Army National Guard located in Morrison County, Minnesota, will host an event dedicated towards public outreach, environmental restoration, along with the collaboration of Native American tribes to promote natural resource conservation in tandem with cultural appreciation.

Texas Military Department located in Austin, Texas, will conduct a public education and outreach campaign on environmental conservation.

Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach located in Seal Beach, California, will host a volunteer event on site with the objective of restoring native vegetation to several acres of upper saltmarsh habitat and adjacent upland habitat.

Army Natural Resources Program located in Wahiawa, Hawaii, will host an event focusing on the removal of invasive plant species and native habitat restoration.