Good afternoon. I want to extend a warm welcome to everyone and thank you for joining us for the site dedication of this very exciting project.

Our Homeland Defense Readiness Center is only the second facility of its kind in the nation. It will be a model example of how cooperation and teamwork can accomplish some very important goals that benefit the entire community.

The Kansas National Guard...the Sedgwick County Commission...the United States Marine Corps Reserves and the City of Wichita are extremely proud of the Homeland Defense Readiness Center and the unique partnership that is making it possible.

The Homeland Defense Readiness Center will be a regional hands-on training complex for first responders who deal with terrorist attacks...natural disasters...and other civil emergencies.

The center will house an Armed Forces Reserve Center for the Kansas National Guard and Marine Reserves...joint training classrooms and facilities for City and County law enforcement and fire departments...tactical training facilities for City and County “first responders”...and a maintenance shop for military vehicles and equipment.

Protecting our country and our community is one of the most important goals of government. The Homeland Defense Readiness Center will help us make your families and your community safer...stronger...and better prepared to respond to any kind of disaster.

Since the September 11 terrorist attacks, cities across America have strengthened security for physical infrastructure, events management and transportation. Wichita is no exception. Our cities have significantly increased surveillance activities...assumed responsibilities for counter terrorism in partnership with federal law enforcement agencies...revamped emergency preparedness plans...responded to anthrax threats and incidents...purchased new equipment and have shouldered significant costs in overtime pay for first responders.

The lessons we learned from both the tragic bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City and the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon point to the need for better coordination among all levels of government in order to achieve an effective state of national domestic preparedness. The Homeland Defense Readiness Center will play a crucial role in making sure that training and coordination occurs and the entire nation will follow in our leading example.

A number of people from the federal government...state government...county government...city government and the military have worked together to make this project possible. One of those people who have worked hard on behalf of the City of Wichita is Council member Carl Brewer.

Thank you, Carl. This project would not have been possible without our valued relationship with Sedgwick County and the effective work they did to clear some obstacles and cut some red tape that could have delayed work on the Readiness Center. One of the most enthusiastic advocates for this important project is Sedgwick County Commission Chairman Tim Norton.

Thanks, Tim, and thank you also to County Manager Bill Buchanan and Andy Schlapp for their hard work as well.

Of course one of the most important partners in our efforts to secure and protect our community is the Kansas National Guard. They are also major partners in this project. We are honored to have with us today Kansas Adjutant General Greg Gardner. Welcome, General...

Thank you, General Gardner.

And now to unveil the current site… as you can see here, you should be pleased we chose not to host this event at the site...work is in the very beginning stages.

This image here shows the site location for the new Readiness Center at I-135 Highway and East 29th Street North, west of Hillside and south of K-96 Highway. The site meets the requirements for the facility and has adjacent land for future expansion, if required.

Gossen Livingston Architecture provided the architect’s rendering that you see here. I think we can all agree it will be an outstanding facility both aesthetically and functionally.

As we all know, we are facing a difficult time in our nation. Our thoughts and prayers are with the thousands of dedicated men and women in our armed services who are in harms way serving our country in the Middle East. We pray for their safe and speedy return to their homes and families. While they are defending America against terrorism abroad, we are making sure we do everything we can to safeguard of our citizens here at home. The Homeland Defense Readiness Center will play a vital role in making sure our police...fire... and other emergency personnel are well prepared to protect the frontlines of hometown America.

Thank you all again for being here today to witness this exciting partnership. At this time, I would like to ask the representatives from this collaboration to come up and further demonstrate this spirit of cooperation by signing our Official Site Designation & Partnership Agreement.

Again those partners are...

Myself, representing the City of Wichita; Tim Norton, representing Sedgwick County; Kansas Adjutant General Greg Gardner, representing the Kansas National Guard; and Captain Don Albert, representing the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.