We are pleased to hear the good news about the future of Cannon Air Force Base. Your community has some great volunteers who have participated with the Committee of Fifty and their dedication over the years has paid off. We are only sorry that Doc Stewart is not here to celebrate with you. We have met with the Committee of Fifty representatives over the past few years and we were there for the Base Realignment and Closure Commission hearing last summer. We have been there for meetings of the State Military Base Planning Commission. And now, we are with your community in spirit as you celebrate a new future for the area. Chuck Zang Kirtland Partnership Committee chair Albuquerque Cannon made life in Clovis magnificent Thank God for “Operation Kept Cannon.” I am a retired Cannon Air Force Base member. I came here in November 1942 to open the base. There was not one building on the base when 150 military men came with me from Geiger Field, Wash. We lived in town until the paper shack barracks were completed six months later. I lived at 801 Connelly with the Schwarts’ family. My military grade rank went from PFC, corporal, sergeant, staff sergeant and finally warrant officer. My major job assignment was manager of about 300 officers’ living quarters. Since baseball was my career when I left Brooklyn, N.Y., I played a lot of baseball with the Base Flying Fortress team. We traveled to several Air Force bases, flying on the F-17 bomber. I met my wife, Joyce Matlock, who lived in a farm in Ranchvale. We married on Oct. 8, 1943. I learned a great deal about farming. In 1946, I retired from my military service and purchased a 320-acre farm, six miles north of Grier and three children were added to our family. Due to a drought from 1949 through 1955, I had to quit farming in 1960. During my farming days, I also played professional baseball for the Clovis Pioneers in 1947 and 1948. I have met some wonderful people in Clovis and the Ranchvale community. It was the best thing that ever happened to me. I’m glad I left New York City and established my roots in the Clovis area. It was my assignment at Cannon AFB that made my Clovis life experiences possible. I am very thankful that our Department of Defense selected a new mission for Cannon AFB to keep our base open. Len Santi Clovis Amarillo sends congratulations On behalf of the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce and the city of Amarillo, we wish to congratulate Clovis and Cannon Air Force Base on being named the home for the Air Force Special Operations 16th Wing. More than a year ago, citizens of Amarillo joined together for a letter writing campaign and expressed support for the Cannon facility to be kept open. A bus load of community leaders and concerned citizens delivered the almost 3,000 local letters to the Base Realignment and Closure Commission to show the importance of the base, in not only the local economy of Clovis/Portales, but in the economy of the Texas Panhandle and Amarillo area. We are thankful for the small part our city could play in the “Operation: Keep Cannon” campaign. As a community, we are thrilled to learn about the new plans to have Cannon play such a vital role in our national security. The unified connection between Amarillo’s Bell Helicopter Plant, BWXT Pantex, and the Clovis air base will make this area a leader in fighting the war on terrorism. Stationing Bell Helicopter’s V-22 Ospreys in Clovis will only serve to strengthen our relationship with you, our New Mexico neighbors. We salute your city’s tenacity in the fight to keep the base open. Gary Molberg Amarillo Chamber of Commerce president Debra McCartt Amarillo mayor Regarding last week’s announcement that Cannon Air Force Base will soon be home to the Air Force Special Operations 16th Wing: There is a great lesson for us all arising out of the latest news about Cannon Air Force Base, particularly for young people: Never give up on something you feel strongly about, be it sports, business, goals, academics and life. When it looked like we would be on the closure list, we could have given up. When we were on the list, same thing. A few said we were wasting our time and money and we would never change the decision of the Department of Defense. But Cannon received a new mission due to all of our area folks, elected officials, retired military and others working together and never giving up. Bill Kinyon Clovis Repairs would make good impression of Cannon First, I heaved a sigh of relief. I imagine most people in the area did the same. Second, I thought about my last conversation with longtime Cannon Air Force Base advocate Doc Stewart a few days before his death. He didn’t feel well, and it showed in his face. As always, our short conversation was about his hopes and dreams for Cannon, not his health. I am saddened he did not live to see this day. He would have been so very pleased. Third, I thought about how bad West Seventh and Highway 60/84 west of Prince Street look. It makes a lousy first impression. A little work by the owners, painting and cleaning, would improve things so much. Then there are the road conditions around town, particularly Prince Street between 21st and Llano Estacado. It is past time that area was repaired. I’m sure there are a lot of areas around Clovis and Portales that could use some sprucing. We need to welcome the 16th Special Operations Wing with clean and nice-looking towns. Sue Naylor Clovis