April 25, 2006

Lt. Governor to lead delegation to Germany to meet with “Big Red One”
Nearly 30,000 will call the Fort Riley area home

“The Big Red One is coming home and the State of Kansas could not be happier,” says Governor Kathleen Sebelius.

But with that happiness comes much planning and preparation for the expected 30,000 military personnel, civilians, and families who will soon join the community.

Today, in Junction City, Lt. Governor John Moore, chairman of the Governor’s Military Council, led the third in a series of planning meetings to finalize plans for a trip to Germany next week to meet many of the soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division and the 4th Brigade who will soon call Kansas home.

The intent of the trip is to familiarize troops with their soon-to-be new home, give them resources to help with the move, and make the transition easier for them and their families. The trip to visit the 1st Infantry Division and the 4th Brigade in Würzburg, Germany, is scheduled for May 4 – 6.

“We began working with local communities, planning for an influx of new troops long before we knew the 1st Infantry Division was coming home,” Moore said.

“Important work has been done to ensure we’re able to accommodate this huge influx of individuals, and this trip continues that work. We’re actually the first state to send a delegation to meet with units before they move to their new homes,” he continued.

The delegation of 20 will represent the Governor’s Military Council, the State of Kansas, Junction City and Manhattan city governments, Fort Riley, and the Geary County and Manhattan-Ogden school districts.

As part of the Lt. Governor’s Accommodation Task Force, working groups have addressed key issues such as schools, housing, medical, transportation and child care. In addition to talking about these issues in Germany, the Kansas delegation will answer questions, address concerns and provide soldiers there with contact information for liaisons around the Fort Riley community when they arrive.