DeLauro at Groundbreaking Ceremony for New Middletown Reserve Center

Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-03) attended the groundbreaking for the new Armed Forces Reserve Center in Middletown today. The new facility, which replaces locations in New Haven, Milford, Manchester, Newington, will be a centralized home for Connecticut's Reservists.

Congresswoman DeLauro's remarks appear below.

As Prepared for Delivery

Thank you. I am honored to be here this morning.

First, thank you to our distinguished guests. Major General Monk, Governor Rell, Senator Lieberman, Congressman Courtney, and Mayor Giuliano -- It is good to be with you all today.

This morning, we break ground on the Armed Forces Reserve Center, a new, centralized home for Connecticut's Reservists that, per the 2005 BRAC recommendations, will replace facilities in New Haven, Milford, Manchester, Newington, and right here in Middletown.

I am very glad that, after deliberating together, the Army, the City and the community were able to work in unison to select a mutually agreeable site for this state-of-the-art complex, one that will both serve the needs of the US Army Reserve and Connecticut Army National Guard and provide a boost to the Middletown economy.

When completed, this 42-acre campus will house an estimated 100 permanent full-time staff and approximately 700 citizen soldiers on a rotating basis, as well as 140 vehicles. Here, our men and women in uniform will have access to the training and resources they need to prepare them to serve our nation to the best of their ability.

This Center, which will be used primarily for classroom training and vehicle maintenance, will meld seamlessly into the life of the community. Notably, the architecture of the Reserve Center will utilize several low impact development concepts, as well a partial green roof, to keep energy costs and environmental impact low. This is a win for the US Army Reserve and Connecticut Army National Guard and for the residents of Middletown.

In addition, with the unanimous support of the American Legion and other veterans' organizations in Middletown, we are currently working to name the Center after Major General Maurice Rose, who was born here.

A son and grandson of rabbis who grew up to become the highest ranking Jew in the United States Army, General Rose served a distinguished and highly-decorated career until he was killed in action in Germany in 1945. It is only fitting we honor this Middletown hero here at the Middletown Reserve Center. The language naming this facility after General Rose was included in the defense authorization bill passed by the House last month, and I expect it will become law.

Congratulations again to the US Army Reserve and Connecticut Army National Guard and to the Middletown community on today's groundbreaking, and I look forward to returning here on opening day. A special thanks to the Middletown community for your vision and tenacity. From the beginning, you understood the need for this facility but also wanted to preserve your quality of life. You managed both.

Finally, I would like to take a moment to recognize all of our soldiers and reservists around the world -- in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families right now. Their courage is an inspiration, and we look forward to their safe return. Thank you.

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