Military Cheers and Tears
Maine survived the base-closing process much better than many expected.
Few dared to believe, truly believe, that Maine would be able to save any of its three military facilities from closure. There was surprise and exultation then, over news that the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery had been spared by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC), pending final approval by President Bush and Congress. After all, more than 4,000 civilian jobs were at stake.At the same time, there was a wave of disappointment and frustration in midcoast Maine with the BRAC recommendation to close the Brunswick Naval Air Station.
