The Guard and the State
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Within Vermont, the Guard rendered critical assistance during the
massive ice storm that hit Vermont in January, 1998. Guard units
played an essential role in clearing roads, restoring power, and
bringing normalcy back to Isle LaMotte and Grand Isle. A grateful
out-of-state utility worker told Sen. Leahy when he visited Isle LaMotte after
the storm that it would have taken a month longer to restore
electricity without the Guard's vital help.
One asset that is incredibly helpful to the state in these
emergencies, in addition to being critical to our wartime
capabilities, is the Blackhawk helicopter. Now famous because of the
book on Somalia, Blackhawk Down, the UH-60 Blackhawk is a
multi-use, utility helicopter. At Sen. Leahy's encouraging, an important
victory came in March, 1998 when the Army agreed to modernize
Vermont's
aging helicopter unit. The following year, Vermont received
the first of nine modern Blackhawk helicopters to replace its eight Hueys, some of which were older than their pilots.
Sen. Leahy has in the past organized a coalition of senators to increase funds for the
helicopter program, which allowed Vermont to receive even more of
these useful helicopters. |
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