Pocono News Section

PA National Guard Unit Moves to Berwick

PA National Guard Unit Moves to Berwick - Saturday, December 13, 2008 at 5:30PM EST

BERWICK, COLUMBIA COUNTY- 80 new neighbors moved into Berwick Saturday. These special newcomers held a big open house to greet everyone.

300 Pine Street in Berwick is the new home of Apha Company 55th Brigade Special Troops Battalion of the Pennsylvania National Guard. Berwick Mayor Lou Biachii welcomed the soldiers.

Everyone was invited to this open house to learn more about what this company does as a National Guard Unit and more specifically, as an intelligence company. Brigadier General James Joseph said, “It's a military intelligence unit. we can recruit from a lot of the colleges and the town of Berwick as well.”

The company relocated from the Watres Armory in Scranton. This was a pleasant surprise to see them come back. Everyone is really happy we have a guardsmen unit in Berwick again,” added Mayor Biachii.

Berwick had been a solid supporter of the guardsmen for decades. Restructuring phased the soldiers out of Berwick and out of this building. The facility was closed and slated to be sold.

Then plans changed. The soldiers and their assets came back. War veteran Stanley Trivelbiece says the National Guard unit staying in the community is great for the economy of Berwick. “With them coming here it will give a little more revenue. A lot of them want to move buy houses. It will benefit us economy wise,” he said.

The 80-plus soldiers will continue the rich military tradition in this town and for some it's an important part of history. Kurt Raber of Berwick VFW Post 821 says, “This building alone has a lot of history dating to World War II so it's nice to have it reopen.”