NAS Meridian hosts State of the Base Breakfast

MERIDIAN, Miss. (WTOK) - The Naval Air Station in Meridian hosted its Second Annual State of the Base Breakfast on Monday morning.

Captain Luke Davis, the Commanding Officer of NAS Meridian, said community members, local leaders, and state leaders were invited to the base to learn more about their progress.

“We have a lot of progress going on. It’s been a busy year. We’re working with the surrounding counties here on some intergovernmental projects together that benefit both sides of the organizations so some road work, different infrastructure work, things like that we can help on our end out in the community as well as inside our fence lines as well as some hiring projects that are going on through our public works division. So, trying to bring in a stronger workforce and hire people within the community,” said Captain Davis.

U.S. Senator Roger Wicker attended the breakfast and shared how important it is to invest in our military.

“This year, we’re going to have to, we’re going to have to spend some more money on our military because clearly we are not able to respond to all of the areas we need to and I take the attitude of peace through strength. That was the Ronald Reagan approach and during the eight years of Ronald Reagan’s presidency in the four years that followed, we had relative peace around the world because we were strong enough. This is a year, this is a time when we are seeing the threat. In terms of threats being made by the leadership of China, attacks being made by the leadership of Iran that have killed our own troops. We know what we’re facing and this has got to be a time to build up our military budget and to have that strength, that persuades our enemies not to ever take a chance on us,” said Senator Wicker.

Community partners with the base were also honored for their commitment to supporting NAS Meridian.

Marion Mayor Larry Gill and Marion Police Chief Randall Davis accepted the award.

“The good thing about it is this is where I started my career. In 1982, out here at the Naval Air Station and I’ve been part of the Naval Air Station for, like almost 41 years and I credit a lot of things that happened and train out here, leading me being chief in Marion, MS. It’s special, special to me to come and see how the base has grown and continue to grow,” said Chief Davis.

At the breakfast, six community partners with the base were also honored for their commitment to supporting NAS Meridian, which Included the Town of Marion, Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office, East Mississippi Business Development Corporation, and others.

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