Photo: http://northeast.fws.gov/images/darlington.awd.jpg6
6
>Providence> Forge Man Declared Unsung Hero
In recognition of his extraordinary contributions to the Harrison Lake National Fish Hatchery, Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton awarded Edward W. Darlington of Providence Forge, Va., the Unsung Hero Award on Wednesday at the Department's Honor Awards Convocation in Washington, D.C. The award recognizes employees for their valuable behind-the-scene contributions.
Darlington was cited as one of those who spend ? decades in service: Doing more than required ? or even desired ? day after day, year after year," Norton said. Darlington is solely responsible for maintenance at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's aging Harrison Lake hatchery.
But, according to Hatchery Manager Michael Odom, Darlington does much more than maintenance. "On his own initiative, Ed has single-handedly developed a successful volunteer program for the hatchery, resulting in nearly 2,300 hours of volunteer labor in the last two years. Since the hatchery has just three employees, the volunteer effort is extremely valuable.
"Ed's plate is more than full keeping the infrastructure and assets of this old facility in working condition.? Odom said that Darlington readily assists other employees with hatchery operations, and he serves as a safety instructor for operating heavy equipment.
Harrison Lake National Fish Hatchery is one of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 69 hatcheries nationwide. The hatchery produces and stocks up to7 million American shad annually for restoration projects in Virginia and Maryland. Since 1994, the hatchery has stocked more than 37 million American shad.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
-FWS-
