The federal government has awarded the state $4 million to repay
National Guard units that helped rebuild roads damaged by Tropical Storm Irene.
The
Federal Highway Administration initially denied the state’s application for the
money, because National Guard units typically don’t do the kind of work
they did after Irene.
The Air Force says more people would be affected by noise if F-35 fighter jets are based
at the Vermont Air Guard base at the Burlington airport. Vermont is one of two preferred sites being considered for
the new jets.
The demands placed on the military by two
wars thrust the Vermont National Guard into a critical role and with that came more money and
services. But
cuts in the Pentagon budget announced this month will bring more changes to the guard.
"Task Force Green Mountain Spirit" is the name
the Vermont National Guard chose for its flood recovery mission in its home
state. As the mission ends and the soldiers head home,
they say that spirit isn’t just something they brought with them. It’s
something they found, and shared in the towns where they’ve spent the past
month working.
Governor Peter Shumlin says a Vermont National Guard member has died of
an apparent heart attack while helping residents recover from Tropical
Storm Irene.
The Vermont Air National Guard says it’ll be ramping up training over the next two weeks as aircraft from across the country arrives at Burlington International Airport to support training with the Green Mountain Boys.
First
Lady Michelle Obama paid a brief visit to Vermont on Thursday to raise money at a pair
of sold-out events in Burlington. But first she spoke to members of the military and
their families to thank them for their service.
A memorial ceremony in Colchester honored three Vermont National Guard members who died in the line of duty as
members of the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team that recently served in Afghanistan.