Concord Journal
Thursday, May 12, 2005

Editorial: Waiting with bated breath

It's the calm before the storm. Tomorrow the Base Realignment And
Closure Commission will release its list of military bases throughout the
U.S. recommended for closure. The announcement will either entail a
collective sigh of relief from the numerous public officials, residents,
businesses and groups in support of the base, or it will spur a massive
last-ditch effort to sway the U.S. government to take a closer look at
Hanscom.

The degree of detail, determination and unanimity in which the forces
in support of Hanscom have mobilized over the past year is impressive. It's
not just another aging military base struggling to keep its head above
water. Proponents have carved out a clear picture of Hanscom as a
cutting-edge, high-tech backbone of our modern military. The base, they say,
is a vital component of modern warfare and cannot simply be moved due to its
integral link with the technology of the region. We're convinced. We hope
BRAC is too.

Regardless of whether Hanscom Air Force Base is on the preliminary list
for closure or not, Concord residents have much for which to be grateful.

The base, which is a huge economic nucleus in the area, has allies and
those are the folks who have fought to prove its worthiness as a functioning
military location since the BRAC process began. From Congressmen to state
representatives to town selectmen, anyone would be hard pressed to say the
residents in the four Hanscom towns haven't put up a fight.

So here's hoping to Hanscom not showing up on tomorrow's list. But if
it does end up listed, we know the fight's not over. The same folks who have
worked tirelessly for the past year, will continue the battle.

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