Battlezone Brings Patriotism to the Home Front

When all the pomp and circumstance of holidays like the 4th of July and Memorial Day subside, there is one place in town where patriotism lives 365 days a year.

It's called , and its run by Paul and Pat Fortin. They've been in business since 1988, originally in New Haven, and have enjoyed their 371 Boston Post Road location in Orange since 1991.

The husband and wife run the store themselves essentially 365 days a year, with a few exceptions on major holidays when they close. "This is our second home," Pat says. "It's a tough schedule but we wouldn't want to do anything else."

"It's fun," Paul says.

It's also a natural fit for Paul, who served in the U.S. Marines for 22 years, including three tours in Vietnam. The Wallingford couple met after Paul retired in 1987.

Over the years, both Paul and Pat have developed valued relationships with their customers. He says, "As corny as it sounds, they're not customers any more. They're friends."

And his friends know that he takes his coffee black with no sugar, and they'll often bring him one when they come by.

One of the coolest things, Pat says, is to see customers who came in as children now coming in with their own little ones. "I love when the kids come in," she says, smiling. "They go put on the masks, they check out the grenades."

But one of the kids' favorite things in Battlezone is the dog tags, which they can have custom stamped right before their eyes. "They get so excited when they put them on," Pat says.

Aside from the dog tags, Battlezone very much lives up to its name as "A True Army Navy Store" with its vast selection of gear, memorabilia and patriotic items.

"I think if you're not [patriotic], you will be by the time you leave here," Paul says, adding, "I hope so."