Get to know your community

  • Published
  • By Col Randy Boswell
  • 436th Mission Support Group
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  When I meet Airmen new to the installation, I like to ask them about their first impressions of the area. The answers generally fall into one of two polar opposite categories: geographic proximity and geographic isolation. They see the major east coast cities as Dover's main attraction, or they see farm fields lining Route 13 as walls trapping them in perpetual inactivity. These two answers demonstrate a knowledge gap of what this area truly has to offer. I challenge you to enrich your lives...venture out and get to know your community.

The Air Force has been good to us. In our twenty four years of service, we took thirteen different assignments and enjoyed every one. Through the seemingly perennial PCS’s, we took every opportunity to venture out and get to know our community. We lived great experiences and accumulated cherished memories. From fishing in Alaska, to scuba diving off Okinawa, riding the Katy Trail in Missouri, summiting Pikes Peak in Colorado, and visiting ancient cities in Turkey, we made each assignment awesome!

So, let’s talk about Dover. It is true Dover is conveniently close to major metropolises, and rural communities due surround. However, you only have to take a quick look down Route 1 to see how rich Dover is in outdoor activities, history and fascinating people. As proof, let me share with you some of our adventures and people we’ve met since arriving last summer.

Our first Dover activity was a trip to Rehoboth Beach on a sunny August day. We drove down early Sunday morning to beat traffic, and we had sand between our toes in less than an hour. The water was perfect, the waves were picturesque and the boardwalk was bustling. A word of warning though, don’t let your children watch Shark Week, an August ritual in our house, if you want them to get in the water.

After falling in love with the beach, the Outdoor Rec staff introduced us to standup paddle boarding. Janice Turner and Lisa Kuehnl met us at Bowers Beach with paddle boards, equipment and the “know how” we desperately lacked. If you haven’t met Janice, Lisa and the rest of the Outdoor Rec staff, you are missing out. Their energy is contagious and their knowledge is phenomenal. After a bit of instruction and practice we were standing up on the boards and successfully making forward progress. It was a great experience! A couple of tips from our trip; one, wind direction makes a huge difference. Paddling with the wind – easy, paddling against the wind – near impossible. Two, don’t underestimate the power of a horse fly to knock you off the board.

Do you like to ride bikes? If so, let me suggest two ideas. First, sign up for the Annual Amish Country Bike Tour held every September. The ride starts and ends in Dover, meandering through a maze of maize in the Delaware country side for 25, 50, 62.5, or 100 miles, depending on how far you want to ride. The organizers stage food/rest stops along the way including the famous pie stop at the Amish school house. There is nothing better than homemade cherry pie after biking 60 miles! Second, try the Junction & Breakwater trail between Lewes and Rehoboth Beach. There are two trail heads with parking behind the outlet malls. Riders can make a 16 mile loop riding the trail south into Rehoboth Beach, north along the board walk and through Henlopen State Park, west towards Lewes and then back south along the trail to the parking area. The scenery is stunning.

Our Dover assignment also introduced us to the sport of NASCAR. We have always liked cars/trucks and we enjoy spending weekends in the garage with the hood up. Despite this, we had never been to a NASCAR race. To rectify that, my son and I took advantage of the free tickets the USO offers, and watched the 500 mile marathon of speed at Dover’s own Monster Mile. What a great October afternoon! I still can’t decide which was more impressive, the drivers or the pit crews. Both are highly skilled and decisive elements at the finish. We will definitely be at the race this June and this time, I will be renting the red audio headsets so we can listen to the announcer’s description of the race.

If you love history and historic places, I highly recommend spending some time in downtown Dover. The Green historical park is a wonderful place to explore. Start with taking a tour of the Old State House. Built in 1791, the Old State House served as Delaware's capitol until 1933 and has seen 224 years of continuous governmental use. Guides will explain how and why the structure was built while passing along pieces of Delaware history.

Traveling west from the Old State House, stop and visit the Delaware Store and Park Green Galleries. The store and galleries are located on the original site of the Golden Fleece Tavern. At this tavern in December 1787, state delegates met to ratify the new Federal Constitution, making Delaware the first state. You will also meet Ms. N. Taylor Collins in the galleries, a prominent Delaware artist who shares the Delaware story through paint. When you meet Ms. Collins, ask about the flags she paints there in the studio, I guarantee it is a great story!

After leaving the art studio walk a few more blocks west and visit the Johnson Victrola Museum. Did you know Eldridge Reeves Johnson, founder of the Victor Talking Machine Company and a pioneer in the development of the sound-recording industry was from Delaware? Have you ever seen a gramophone cranked by hand and emit music? I was a “no” for both until stepping into the Museum. The tour guides bring the old machines to life and walk you through the development of sound recording. If you’re a fan of music, the museum will strike a chord with you.

Let me leave you with a couple fun Delaware facts. The movie “Dead Poets Society” starring Robin Williams, was filmed in Middletown, and Delaware’s farmers plant more lima beans for commercial freezing or canning than any other state in the country.

On a serious note, our tour here in Delaware is going to be remembered as one of our favorite assignments. I hope you too will get out and get to know the community. Have an awesome Dover experience!