Boston Herald
Saturday, February 7, 2004

Pentagon exec, Kennedy to tour Hanscom base

By Jon Chesto

Massachusetts' senior U.S. senator plans to bring a top Pentagon
official on a tour of Hanscom Air Force Base next week as the campaign to
save the Bedford military base intensifies.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, a Democrat, told business leaders yesterday at
a Sun Microsystems office in Burlington that Defense Undersecretary Michael
Wynne will visit next Friday as Pentagon leaders look to close bases
starting next year.

Bay State politicians are trying to convince Pentagon officials that
high-tech expertise and proximity to research institutions should be
factored into any base-closing decisions. They're also trying to save the
Army's Natick labs.

Local political leaders and executives hope those factors will favor
Hanscom and the Natick labs.

``I think we've got the facts on our side,'' Kennedy said. ``I'm very
hopeful and optimistic. But we've got to work on it until the very end.''

Alan J. Macdonald, senior vice president at MassDevelopment, said
Wynne's visit will be the latest step in promoting the bases.

``It's easy to sit in Washington and say, `Boy, it's expensive to run a
military installation up in Boston,' '' said Macdonald. ``We feel the more
people know and understand the unique climate that exists in and around
Hanscom Air Force Base and Natick, the harder it is to close them.''

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