Virginia National Guard breaks ground on major expansion in Botetourt Co.

BOTETOURT CO., Va. (WDBJ) – 14 years after the Roanoke Armory closed, the Virginia Nationwide Guard is rebuilding its presence in western Virginia.

Thursday morning, officers broke floor on a significant growth in Botetourt County.

The Virginia Nationwide Guard acquired the positioning of the previous Botetourt Correctional Heart in 2015 and opened the present facility two years later.

It’s now dwelling to the twenty ninth Infantry Division Band, and Subject Upkeep Store #10. The growth will present sufficient area for 2 extra models and 220 further troopers.

Maj. Basic Timothy Williams, the Adjutant Basic of Virginia, stated the guard has been deliberate however decided in bringing the venture ahead.

“It will get us again to our roots of getting a presence within the Roanoke Valley,” Williams stated following the groundbreaking ceremony. “One thing that we’ve had, actually so long as we will bear in mind and significantly since World Struggle I. And so rebuilding that hyperlink is extremely necessary.”

The twenty ninth Infantry Division Band offered the soundtrack for a ceremony that included Virginia’s Secretary of Veterans and Protection Affairs Craig Crenshaw.

Sgt. Zach Federico is a scholar at Liberty College and works within the Faculty of Enterprise there. He performs the euphonium and trombone within the band.

“We’re actually excited concerning the growth,” Federico instructed reporters. “It’s actually nice to have extra troopers within the facility.”

Equally excited is Botetourt County Administrator Gary Larrowe.

“It’s a superb location. It’s very shut, but distant,” Larrowe stated. “It’s a prime instance of reuse of a facility. And so, we’re simply happy to demise that that is going down in Botetourt.”

Enlargement of the Roanoke Regional Readiness Heart Advanced is predicted to take about two years.

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