Sen. Bond helps 139th Airlift Wing break ground on Fire/Crash rescue facility

By: Maj. Brian Bowman
Missouri National Guard Public Affairs




ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - The Missouri National Guard's 139th Airlift Wing, along with distinguished visitors including Sen. Christopher 'Kit' Bond, broke ground on a new firehouse at Rosecrans Memorial Airport on June 4.

Bond, Missouri's adjutant general, Brig. Gen. Stephen Danner, and Rep. Sam Graves were among the dignitaries and military leaders who attended the event. Several of those dignitaries were invited to turn ceremonial dirt at the impending construction site, a few hundred yards north of the current air tower.

Bond was a key player in securing funds for the construction. The state's senior senator, who will retire later this year, received a standing ovation from the crowd of more than 100 when introduced by Danner.

"To say that the space of the current fire building is too small would be the understatement of the year," Bond said. "Now at least the firefighters won't have to suck in their guts to get between their vehicles."

Bond noted Guard and Reserve military forces provide 40 percent of the armed forces capability but receive only six percent of the budget.

"You don't have to be an accountant to figure out that is a bargain," he said. Bond admitted his bias, as a former Missouri governor, toward the Missouri National Guard.

"The Missouri National Guard will always be number one in my heart," he said.

Danner praised Bond for his leadership through the years and in securing the funds for the current project. He also praised the 139th Airlift Wing.

"Being the adjutant general for the past year and a half, I've been all over," Danner said, "This is the best airlift wing in the country, and that is why you are receiving world-class facilities."

Danner said Bond's willingness to take time to listen and understand concerns is one of his strengths, dating back to Bond's days as governor a quarter-century ago. At the time, the current adjutant general was a first-term member of the Missouri State Legislature.

Col. Mike McEnulty, 139th Airlift Wing commander, told the audience that the 25,000 square-foot firehouse will be built in two construction phases and be complete in the fall of 2011. It will include six apparatus bays, offices, classrooms, sleeping quarters and a fitness area.

The new firehouse is the second building of a 20-year master plan to move the base approximately a half mile north of its current location, taking it out of the 100-year flood plain. The wing's Air Traffic Control unit moved into the first building constructed in 2006.
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Posted: 6/6/2010 4:18:13 PM