From pg 1 11-3-22

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Category: Current Issue

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Major General Francis Evon Jr. and local officials breaking ground for the new CT Army National Guard Readiness Center. Linda Lemmon photo.



From federal to local — persistence yields center
Guard breaks ground for new Readiness Center
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — The Connecticut Army National Guard had been gone from Putnam for 15 years.
In that time, the state had slid into regionalization mode.
But Major General Francis Evon Jr., the adjutant general and commander of the CT National Guard, was remembering something an NCO had told him once: “Physical presence is a mission.”
With the groundbreaking Oct. 28 of the State of Connecticut Military Department Connecticut Army National Guard Putnam Readiness Center on the former Dempsey Center property, the physical presence is returning.
Evon said when the 39,000 square foot readiness center is complete, the Guard will have a physical presence is seven out of the eight counties in Connecticut. At the ready and an integral part of the community. The Center will support the 163 soldiers of the 643rd Military Police Company. Evon said he looks forward to coming back for a ribbon cutting in two falls.
The hardest part to make that all happen, Evon said, was the “biggest obstacle” — getting the property. Without having an “excess property” piece of property, the Guard wouldn’t get the opportunity to put in for funding. Without the state’s excess property surrounding the Dempsey Center he said they could try for the money, but the score would be too low to qualify. Getting the property “gave us one and a half feet” into the process, he said.  The town of Putnam had first option on the property and declined, opening the door for the Guard.
“Owning the property was the defining criteria,” he said.
Efforts started with the state committing some funding first. When that happened, the effort moved national. A total of $19 million was committed.
A representative of the design firm, Ames & Whitaker, said construction may start in perhaps a month, depending on supplies. The construction contractor is the Morganti Group Inc. and the anticipated date is the fall of 2025.
Looking around at all the veterans and veterans plates at the groundbreaking, Evon said “We made the right decision.” He added the Guard will be active in the community. “We will lower the walls — the community can see who we are.”
Second District Congressman Joe Courtney gave Evon and the host of others kudos for getting through years of hoops. “This is not for the faint of heart,” he said.
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal hailed the coming center saying “military readiness is more important than ever.”
Governor Ned Lamont was scheduled to speak but did not attend because of a scheduling change.
State Senator Mae Flexer noted that the Guard serves in many ways: natural disasters, weather disasters, during the pandemic and much more.
State Representative Pat Boyd called the Guard “the home team”. “Having them back here is huge. Having the support of the community is huge,” he said. State Representative Rick Hayes said when he arrived at the state Capitol four years ago, he got right onto the issue, saying his effort was “just short of stalking.”
Mayor Barney Seney, a veteran, said it was great to have the Guard back in Putnam.

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