The impact of base closings

Your assignment: With military bases closing around the nation, MSNBC is asking readers in areas impacted by the announcement to share how the news will affect their communities.

A success story
Oscoda, Mich., is an example of a town surviving a base closure. Wurtsmith AFB was closed in 1993 and for a time the economy and outlook of the community was turned upside down. But a flourishing cargo airline has put its maintenance facility where SAC used to be, a jet engine overhaul company is flourishing and other companies have leased or purchased buildings. In addition, new industries are growing, the base hospital is being used, a college uses one of the facilities as a satellite campus, and almost all of the base housing has been refurbished and sold to families who have found Oscoda to be a really good town to live in. To be sure, it has not come easily, but Oscoda, fifty or more miles from any major town or city, has found a new life and is finding that there is life after death of a military facility. Granted, it has not come easily but it is exciting to see a town not simply survive but flourish despite the loss of a base.  
--Bruce M., Oscoda, Mich.

Diminishing security
Otis Air National Guard Base is located on Cape Cod, and has for many years provided jobs, and security to the Cape community.  Closing Otis would also put our nation at risk.  It is close to Boston and New York City, and on 9-11 played a key role in responding to the attacks in New York.  Aside from anyone's political views, we are at war.  What kind of message is the government sending when it decides to close bases that so many of our men and women came from who are now overseas fighting for us?  Rome, N.Y., was a base town, and when Grifface AFB was closed, the town's economy went down the drain.  Rumsfeld, who has been a supporter of our military from day one would do good to sit and think about what will happen to the economies and lives of countless other small, and large base towns all over the U.S.  
--Laura Evans, Sandwich, Mass.

Bad on all fronts
The impact of base closings in the United States is a huge blow to local economy and our homeland security. Amidst the great American war on terror the U.S. government wants to lessen local security and national? I live in Nashua, N.H., and personally this wouldn't effect me. However the Portsmouth naval shipyard is pretty darn close to the Seabrook, N.H. nuclear power plant. I personally like the fact we have some eastern seaboard protection from any threats. Now what do have? Unemployment and no protection. Thanks Uncle Sam, I look forward to seeing you again next April 15th.
--John J. Murray, Nashua, N.H.

Accomplishments overlooked by Pentagon
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard has received her marching orders, but the closure order given today will be a difficult one to carry out. We have led the way in submarine overhaul, accomplished everything the Navy has tasked us to do and more. I guess I am simply disappointed and saddened at the fact that our accomplishments have meant so little to the Pentagon. This BRAC round will definitely effect our community over the next several years, bust mostly it will effect the pride and soul of the shipyard workers themselves - the workers, planners, and engineers that have put everything on the line to be the very best at what they do, only to be thanked in such a manner that leaves a bad taste in your mouth. I am very proud of my fellow shipyarders, and while we wait for the final word, we'll stay in front of the pack and set a few more overhaul records until we are relieved of duty and hear the shipyard whistle blow for the last time.
--TQ, Kittery, Maine

Closing base, closing everything
I live near the Niagara Falls Air reserve base and closing it would literally close the area down. It is the only major employer in the area and it is already economically depressed with tourist going to the Canadian side. It would also mean the loss of many hundreds of jobs on the base. Also, it would leave many buildings vacant and all the land bare for many years. The entire WNY area cannot afford to lose any more major employers.
--Donald Seifert, Buffalo, N.Y.

Room for expansion
I live in Ridgecrest, Calif. Just down the street is the China Lake Naval Air Weapons Center. I have never worked on the base, but have been experiencing the fear of the base being closed for many years.  I could never understand the fear.  We are in the middle of the Mojave Desert - plenty of unused land and air space — room for expansion.  If several bases are doing the same or near same jobs that were created years ago, it makes sense in this age of technology that bases could be combined.  But, I had lunch today with a person that works at China Lake and was told that the supposed savings of closures is much less than the costs of closing the bases. Not including the costs to communities and their citizens.
--Mary Lewis, Ridgecrest, Calif.

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