911th Airlift Wing Supporters Plan Rally

Supporters hoping to prevent the planned closure of the 911th Airlift Wing will gather Saturday in Moon Township to protest the move. 

The Military Affairs Coalition of Western Pennsylvania is planning a 4:30 p.m. rally Saturday at Airport Cargo Building A at 700 Airside Drive in the township. The event will feature guest speakers as well as information for those directly impacted by the closure. 

More than 300 supporters of the air wing are expected to attend the event, which is open to the public, said organizer Carol Pirro.

"We're going to do a question-and-answer session and discuss what's going on and what people are doing to help," Pirro said. 

The coalition held an April at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall in Oakland to protest the closure. 

Pirro said event organizers are seeking volunteers to help set up and clear the area where the rally is being held. Those interested in participating can contact her at cp263@comcast.com. 

The Air Force announced earlier this year to shutter the Moon-based airlift wing as a part of a plan to cut more than $8.7 billion from its 2013 budget. More than 1,100 military positions and 280 civilian positions at the base will be eliminated in the move. Each of the base's eight C-130 aircraft will be retired.  

The budget cuts are also slated to impact the neighboring Air National Guard's 171st Refueling Wing, which will lose 180 military personnel under the plan. 

"It's just a rally to get people's spirits up," Pirro said. 

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