Panhandle Army Reserve Center holds groundbreaking

By Sgt. 1st Class Joel QuebecMarch 20, 2013

Panhandle Army Reserve Center holds groundbreaking
1 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Flags stand tall just before the ground breaking ceremony for a new Army Reserve center in Bay County, Florida on March 16. Included are the U.S. colors, Florida state flag, 81st RSC flag and the flag of the Army Reserve Ambassadors. The event was ho... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Panhandle Army Reserve Center holds groundbreaking
2 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – mbers of the Post 356, Lynn Haven, Florida Veterans of Foreign Wars salute during the playing of the National Anthem that began a ground breaking ceremony for a new Army Reserve center in Bay County, Florida on March 16. The new facility will include... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Panhandle Army Reserve Center holds groundbreaking
3 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Army Reserve Ambassador for North Carolina Johnny Dwiggins speaks during a ground breaking ceremony for a new Army Reserve center in Bay County, Florida on March 16. The new facility will include a 17,769 sq. ft. training building, a 4,627 sq. ft. ma... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Panhandle Army Reserve Center holds groundbreaking
4 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Bay County Florida Commissioner Guy Tunnell speaks during a ground breaking ceremony for a new Army Reserve center on March 16. The new facility will include a 17,769 sq. ft. training building, a 4,627 sq. ft. maintenance building and a 458 sq. ft. s... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Panhandle Army Reserve Center holds groundbreaking
5 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Katrina Dowis, the Executive Officer for the 207th Regional Support Group, speaks during a ground breaking ceremony for a new Army Reserve center in Bay County, Florida on March 16. The new facility will include a 17,769 sq. ft. training bui... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Panhandle Army Reserve Center holds groundbreaking
6 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Military and civil officials unveil the artist rendering during a ground breaking ceremony for a new Army Reserve center in Bay County, Florida near Panama City on March 16. The new facility will include a 17,769 training building, a 4,627 maintenanc... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Panhandle Army Reserve Center holds groundbreaking
7 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Military and civil officials unveil the artist rendering during a ground breaking ceremony for a new Army Reserve center in Bay County, Florida near Panama City on March 16. The new facility will include a 17,769 training building, a 4,627 maintenanc... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Panhandle Army Reserve Center holds groundbreaking
8 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Military and civil officials toss the first shovels of dirt during a ground breaking ceremony for a new Army Reserve center in Bay County, Florida near Panama City on March 16. The new facility will include a 17,769 training building, a 4,627 mainten... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Panhandle Army Reserve Center holds groundbreaking
9 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Military and civil officials toss the first shovels of dirt during a ground breaking ceremony for a new Army Reserve center in Bay County, Florida near Panama City on March 16. The new facility will include a 17,769 training building, a 4,627 mainten... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Panhandle Army Reserve Center holds groundbreaking
10 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. 1st Class Shelia Florence speaks to reporters after a ground breaking ceremony for a new Army Reserve center in Bay County, Florida near Panama City on March 16. The new facility will include a 17,769 sq. ft. training building, a 4,627 sq. ft. m... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Panhandle Army Reserve Center holds groundbreaking
11 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Joseph Roberts, the Director of Public Works for the 81st Regional Support Command, speaks to reporters after a ground breaking ceremony for a new Army Reserve center in Bay County, Florida near Panama City on March 16. The new facility will inc... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Panhandle Army Reserve Center holds groundbreaking
12 / 12 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Col. Joseph Roberts, the Director of Public Works for the 81st Regional Support Command, speaks to reporters after a ground breaking ceremony for a new Army Reserve center in Bay County, Florida near Panama City on March 16. The new facility will inc... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

BAY COUNTY, Fla. -- The community of Bay County, Florida will be getting a new $6 million Army Reserve center which is expected to be completed by early 2014 and will house three transportation units and over 100 Soldiers.

The 81st Regional Support Command, based at Fort Jackson, S.C., hosted the groundbreaking ceremony, which brought representatives from throughout the Bay County community and the Army Reserve.

Army Reserve Ambassador for North Carolina Johnny Dwiggins, welcomed the guests who included Mr. James Waterstradt, the staff representative for Hon. Steve Southerland, U.S. Representative for Florida's 2nd congressional district, Bay County Commissioner Guy Tunnell and members of the units that will occupy the facility.

"Unlike the Army Reserve of the past, today's Army Reserve is truly an operational force," Dwiggins said in his opening remarks. "We transcend countries and people all over the world." He referred to the location as Fort Bay County because "this is going to be home for about 100 Soldiers. They will train here, they will serve here and they will stand ready here to defend the freedoms that you and I hold so dear."

"Bay County has a long and proud history of supporting the military and its personnel," said Tunnell. "We greatly appreciate your commitment to and defense of our country. I'm proud that the completion of this facility will expand the Army's mission here in Bay County."

"We are proud to be a part of this new facility," Sgt. 1st Class Shelia Florence told the local TV news, WMBB Channel 13 and WJHG Channel 7. "And be able to serve with the residents of Bay County and for them." Florence is also the unit administrator for the 334th.

After the artist rendering had been unveiled, several Army Reserve leaders and community leaders used gold-painted shovels to break ground during the ceremony, leading the way for a new 17,769 sq. ft. training building, 4,627 sq. ft. maintenance facility and a 458 sq. ft. storage building on the 10.3-acre site. The three units to move in next summer are the 309th, 334th and 508th Transportation Detachments.

Related Links:

Panhandle Army Reserve Center holds groundbreaking