Letter from Audra Scofield to Commission Regarding Cannon AFB Page: 2 of 7
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i)car Samuel K. Skinner.
As a New Mexico resident loIr nore than 10 years now Cannon Air Force Base hay
affected my life, and my surrounding communities in many ways. I lived across the highway
fom Cannon for many years. Ehen though I am not personally affiliated wilh the base ilself, 1.
along with many others still continue to be affected by its ever) action.
The base has been there as long as I can remember. The base has shared a bond with its
surroundings folr ore than 50 ears now Changing this would leave the economy and
siurroundiing areas leit to Ifade away. I he base has brought a rise in cconoin to Lastern New
Mexico and parts of West Texas. All the new businesses ',would struggle because more than hall
of'their business comes from the people of CarInnonl. their faml, and friends.
B ifore living in Nc'' Mexico 1 lived in At'water, California and I was ,'ere when 1the cl.Jng ,tf
Catle Air Base took place. I ]night have been young but I still knew what was going on. "i he
basce went don't and so did the town. The town had just begun to grow just as Clovis is
expanding. l'oday, looking back at Atwater you see that the base property was taken over by a
maximum-Security prison. In my opinion this is what would happen to Clovis and nobody
around here needs that. Who knows who will take over the property and w hat will happen to it.
Liven if no body does anything with it, still it will be left to rot away
The relationship between Cannon Air Force Base and the surrounding towns: such as: Clovis,
Portales. West Texas and many others, is unlike any other installation in the coLlntry 'hese are
smaller well-rounded cities. which finally Ibund their chance to grow and they took it.
I believe it would be a big mistake to close Cannon leaving all of eastern New Mexico and West
lexas to fend 'for itselF Otr communities extremely need Cannon as part of their ev'erxday Iife.
In the earl> 90s, Curry 'County, a ', well as the State of New Mexico. purchased air casenments
around Cannon Air Force Base and G('AV- them to the Air Force. This was done to protect that
air space and this was an important issue fir the Air Force. At the least the Air Force can do is
stay around and coit trlIue hel ping our corn m unities in our timeS of need.
We ha,,e st]ppyoned the base like no othei coilimmlunit over the last 50 years. We have done o
financially. mor-ally. sprituall., and most of all consistently. So what is to stop us now? Part oft
th1e Air Forces Mission is that: "Our company measures its success by its impact on the world.
our country and the liv es of ils men and women." So please let us continue to help the base, and
more than all let the base help us.
Thank you f or ur consideration.
Attdra Sco Cl 1
Sc fieIl,', .
J7
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Letter from Audra Scofield to Commission Regarding Cannon AFB, letter, July 8, 2005; (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc18206/m1/2/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.