I live a block and one-half (for over 30 years) from the front gate of Ft. Detrick, the helio-pad is another 50 yards from the gate, USAMRIID (think of the movie “Hot Zone”) is another 50 yards past the helio-pad, the Maryland State Police-Medivac uses the area for it’s flight path to the trauma center to our west and we are close to the flight path for Camp David, so we hear and feel helicopters all the time.

While not super common, we have military vehicles travel down our street heading to the front gate. If the windows are open, we hear Revelry, Retreat and Taps every day and night.

My family and I view these events and sounds with a sense of pride and the feeling of protection and comfort. We have know the risks of living so close to the potential source of a major Haz-Mat incident, a terrorist attack, aircraft accident, etc. and what bothers us the most is the increase in traffic, uncontrolled growth, increased taxes and local crime.

Pete