Harrison armory ribbon cutting 11 a.m. Oct. 19, Arkansas Nat’l Guard reopens Boone County armory
PA-001-20 | Oct. 18, 2019
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MEDIA ALERT
Oct. 18, 2019
Contact: Lt. Col. Brian L. Mason
State Public Affairs Officer
Arkansas National Guard
501-212-5020 / 501-590-0318
ng.ar.ararng.mbx.daily-guard@mail.mil
Harrison armory ribbon cutting 11 a.m. Oct. 19
~ Arkansas Nat’l Guard reopens Boone County armory
WHO: The Arkansas Army National Guard
WHAT: Will conduct a ribbon-cutting ceremony to reopen the Harrison armory
WHEN: Media interested in covering the event must show up at the Harrison armory by 11 a.m. Oct. 19. The ceremony starts promptly at 11 a.m.
WHERE: 2810 Airport Road in Harrison, Ark.
WHY: The armory is being reopened and filled with roughly 100 Soldiers assigned to Alpha Company Headquarters, 2nd Regiment, 153rd Infantry Battalion, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, due to its strategic location at the Boone County Airport and close proximity to Highways 412 and 65, which are major commercial truck and passenger car highways. In the event of a natural disaster or weather emergency, the National Guard’s presence there increases the Guard’s agility to rapidly respond.
The Harrison Armory was put in a warm, caretaker status in 2015 in a strategic reorganization. The National Guard routinely evaluates and re-evaluates where it needs a presence based on a myriad of factors that are strategic in nature. The Harrison armory is the third to be reopened this year. Earlier this year, the West Memphis and Prescott armories were reopened.
The Arkansas National Guard pumps nearly $750 million into the state’s economy every year. Boone County’s piece of that pie is over $932,000 annually, which is generated via funds to maintain the armory and in salaries to the 72 Guardsmen who call Boone County home.
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