By Ray Hershel
(WESTFIELD, Mass.) (WGGB)–Massachusetts leaders are taking a pro-active approach in trying to keep Massachusetts military bases intact.
On Friday, Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray toured the Air National Guard’s 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes Airport in Westfield.
Murray got a first hand look at the operation and its value to the military and local community.
The bottom line is to make sure the mission of the 104th and those of other Massachusetts military bases remain intact and not cut back or closed by federal defense department cuts says Murray,”The point of our convening today and beginning this conversation with all of our six facilities is to make sure we are putting our best foot forward, and doing everything we can to protect the mission and the jobs that exist here at Barnes and our other facilities,” says Murray.
The 104th is home to 20, F-15′s.
Military and community leaders say it is a key strategic location.
Major General Scott Rice is Commander of the Massachusetts Air National Guard,” This mission that Barnes performs, they sit alert 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, defending the Northeast from any kind of threats, whether they be hostile or not, we go out, launch on a moment’s notice to go out and investigate and see what it is, what they’re doing, what’s happening,” says General Rice.
After his tour , the lieutenant governor sat down with military and community leaders to hear their input and discuss a game plan that will keep the Massachusetts message on the front burner.
Besides the 104th’s strategic military location, the economic impact of its mission is a major part of the local economy says Westfield Mayor Daniel Knapik,” Barnes is one of the largest employers in the region, and also in the city, without question an enormous situation and also from an airport perspective it is a great benefit to have the guard here, both units, because it brings amenities to our airport that attract other large investment activities,” says Knapik.
The Army and Air Guard operations account for 16-hundred local jobs as well as pumping 110-million dollars into the local economy.
