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Defense Secretary visits Niagara Falls ARS

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Kevin Nichols
  • 914th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION --  Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta met with military and civilian personnel here August 9 to thank them for their service.

"My main purpose in being here is to first and foremost say thank you. Thank you for your service to our country," said Panetta. "It's a personal honor for me to be here, to have a chance to visit these bases and have a chance to say thank you to all of you."

This is the first time in recent memory that a Secretary of Defense has visited Niagara and base officials were excited at the opportunity to showcase the base to the Defense Department's highest ranking official.

"We were honored by Secretary Panetta taking time out of his busy schedule to visit the men and women here," said Col. Allan Swartzmiller, 914th Airlift Wing and installation commander.

While at the base Secretary Panetta also met with state and local political leaders to discuss the future of the air base; western New York's largest military installation and Niagara County's biggest employer.

"The Secretary listened to our congressional delegation and other proponents of the base to include the Niagara Frontier Transit Authority and the Niagara Military Affairs Counsel," said Swartzmiller. "His remarks were encouraging as he recognized the strategic importance of our location here in western New York and that the personnel here have made significant contributions to our Nation's Defense."

The Defense Secretary also talked to the troops about public service and the military's role in helping provide for our nation's future.

"We care about giving our children a more secure and better life," said Panetta. "You are giving us that."

Although the current defense strategy is to become smaller, leaner and more agile, Panetta spoke about investing in the future and the need for a strong Guard and Reserve.

"We do understand that he has difficult decisions to make based on the fiscal constraints facing our Nation. We're hopeful that NFARS will be part of the long term defense plan," said Swartzmiller.