Spokane needs Fairchild

Sat., Dec. 10, 2011

I live in Spokane because of Fairchild Air Force Base. I was born there 25 years ago, Dec. 7. My dad raised three kids as a B-52 pilot from 1986-1991. After the Gulf War, he had the option of becoming an instructor pilot at Castle Air Force Base in Merced, Calif., or leaving the Air Force and raising his family in Spokane. He chose to stay in Spokane, and his entire family remains here.

There are thousands of others who are also here because of Fairchild. They buy housing, food, clothing, cars and a lot more. Spokane wouldn’t see the base’s big economic impact without Fairchild, which is why we should do everything we can to protect it from encroachment.

If Fairchild closes – and bases around the country could start closing as early as 2014 – Spokane would be losing more than 5,000 jobs and many more residents.

Kevin Dudley

Spokane

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