The B-2 is, without a doubt, one of the most advanced and innovative machines ever built by man. It can travel approximately 6,900 miles without refueling and is capable of carrying out an attack mission from 50,000 feet, or roughly nine miles in the sky. Its maximum speed is almost Mach 1, or around 630 miles per hour, while carrying both nuclear and conventional weapons.

These planes have played a crucial role in national security, running campaigns in Serbia, Iraq, Afghanistan and most recently Libya, where three B-2s destroyed almost 50 aircraft on the ground. There are only a total of 20 of these planes, and every single one is located right here in Missouri at the Whiteman Air Force Base.

This was one of the many interesting facts discussed on Wednesday during a joint meeting of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs and Health Committee and the House Veterans’ Committee held in recognition of Military Awareness Day in Missouri. I was honored to be invited to the event, during which members and guest speakers discussed the many ways the military’s presence benefits our state, including the key role it plays in our state economy.

For instance, the Rosecrans Airport, which is one of two bases for the Missouri National Guard, has a $130 million direct economic impact on the St. Joseph area. And that’s one of the smaller bases in our state.

The Whiteman Air Force base houses nearly 4,000 soldiers, including more than 2,000 reserve members, and employs 2,120 civilians. That doesn’t even include the almost 6,000 family members that also live on or near the base. Every one of those individuals spends money in our state, injecting much needed consumer spending into our state economy.

Fort Leonard Wood is Missouri’s sixth largest employer. In addition, some 200,000 people visit it every year for military graduations. Those citizens stay in local hotels and eat in local restaurants. It’s a huge boost to the surrounding region, bringing in much-needed revenue.

All total, the U.S. Department of Defense’s spending and related activities, when combined with multiplier effects, triggered almost $40 billion in economic activity in Missouri. That is a huge figure and underscores how critical the military is to the economy of our state. The loss of even one base would be devastating to both local communities and Missouri as a whole.  

Of course, military members’ contributions to Missouri go beyond dollar figures. The presence of these service members add to the heritage of the state. They serve with honor, and we should be proud they harken from Missouri. Even after leaving service, though, they continue to serve our state and its citizens. 

Veterans understand the duty—not the right, but the duty—of citizenship. These men and women are often heavily involved in their communities and remain valuable members of our workforce. Many come from the military with highly specialized skills, making them desirable to employers.

Thankfully, veterans are often eager to settle here once leaving the service. According to a report by Major General Leslie Smith, 60 percent of Ft. Leonard Wood retirees remain in Missouri. This is incredibly beneficial to our state, and a sign that we need to continue supporting the members of our Armed Forces.

As we work in the 2014 session, I hope my colleagues join me in advocating for measures that help our veterans, active duty, National Guard, reserve, and military personnel, including their families, who often endure months of worry as their loved ones serve overseas. These upstanding members of our military are valuable to the future of Missouri, and I hope we do all we can to ensure they continue to play an important part in our state. 

Contact Me

I always appreciate hearing your comments, opinions, and concerns. Please feel free to contact me in Jefferson City at (573) 751-2459. You may write me at Wayne Wallingford, Missouri Senate, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101, or email at wayne.wallingford@senate.mo.gov or www.senate.mo.gov/wallingford.