Lansing--At 11:30 am on Saturday, June 16, 2001, a distinguished panel of dignitaries, lead by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman, US Senator Carl Levin, and Michigan's Adjutant General, Major General E. Gordon Stump, will preside over the dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony officially opening the new $6 million Augusta Armory, located at Fort Custer at 2501 26th Street, Augusta, Michigan.

"This occasion highlights our accelerating efforts to modernize all the facilities at Fort Custer," General Stump remarked during ceremony planning preparations. "Historically," Stump continued, "Fort Custer has played a vital role in the preparation of soldiers for war in WWI and WWII. Since the end of World War II, Fort Custer has been one of the busiest National Guard training sites in the nation, supporting thousands of soldiers from Michigan and the Midwest. Additionally, many local, state and national organizations and agencies take advantage of the training ranges and facilities we have available at the post."

Early in the 1990's, rapid infrastructure improvements to the World War II facilities began with the construction of new rifle and machinegun ranges, roads, quarters, mess halls, classrooms for distance learning centers, a new front gate, site headquarters, and now, the Augusta Armory.

The Augusta Armory will be home to more than 350 soldiers belonging to five units, representing maintenance, transportation, field artillery, and training units, in addition to the 126th Press Camp Headquarters, which was recently deployed to Bosnia for six months, in support of Operation Joint Forge.

Media and the public are invited to attend the presentation and open house, immediately following the ribbon cutting. For more information about this event, please contact Captain Dawn Dancer at (517) 483-5813, or Lieutenant Colonel Gary Miller at (616) 731-6456.