The new 37,006 square foot Maryland National Guard Readiness Center in Easton replaces the armory built in 1974 at the end of the Vietnam era. Congressman Andy Harris commented, “This building was built at the end of the Middle East War era.” He added, “It is a building to match the job of what we have asked our Guard to do. The men and women in this Guard will train in this facility.”
The new Readiness Center will house two units – D Company, 1-175th Infantry Battalion and Detachment 1, 729th Composite Supply Company – a modern space designed to support today’s Army units. Soldiers of these units have deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan over the past decade, as well as serving at home in civil support contingency operations. The new facility will also house a State Veteran’s Honor Guard Team.
Photo: L-R: Public officials Major General Janeen Birkhead, Delegate Chris Adams, Senator Addie Eckardt, Major General Linda L. Singh, The Adjutant General of Maryland; Talbot County Council President Corey Pack, Congressman Andy Harris, Mayor Robert Willey, Nelson Reichart, Deputy Secretary of the State Department of General Services; and Delegate Johnny Mautz. Hidden in the back is Melissa Kelly, representative of Senator Chris Van Hollen.
Corey Pack, President of the Talbot County Council commented about the facility, “This amazing modern new facility serves the soldiers who are a part of our community and will use this facility for training and fitness. It will also serve to support contingency operations in the event of weather disasters and emergencies in our region.”
He adds, “In light of the recent happenings in El Paso and in Dayton, we know the importance of the layers of security that a community must strive to provide its citizens. The National Guard are our “citizen soldiers” and can support local government in times of need.”
Major General Linda L. Singh, The Adjutant General of Maryland, commented, “We look at replacing armories 10 to 15 years out. It’s a long, intensive journey to get a beautiful armory like this.”
She added, “Most of our equipment today won’t fit into our old facilities. It’s allowed us to move into modern times.”
The $17.3 million LEED certified facility was funded through state and federal dollars. The Maryland State Arts Council was pivotal in implementing the large public art mural in the Readiness Center lobby by Maryland artist Mark Stutzman that depicts the Maryland National Guard’s history and service.
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