COLCHESTER, Vt. -
Lieutenant Colonel Lloyd Goodrow walked into his office Wednesday for one of the last times.
"Midnight tonight I turn into a pumpkin," said Goodrow.
The thirty-plus year guardsman is preparing to step down as the head of the public affairs department.
It's a role Goodrow fell in love with.
He didn't mind working with the media, no matter the story.
"When you bump heads, you bump heads and you move on," said Goodrow.
Over the years Goodrow had to learn new ways to communicate with the press.
"We didn't blast emails, we sent faxes and before the fax we had to mail it. To me the fax was the most incredible thing invented," said Goodrow.
Goodrow has also seen a change in the guard.
He says when he was sworn-in; people thought there was a small chance they'd be called to duty.
"Now you train because your life depends upon it, because your service will be needed," said Goodrow.
Goodrow's also witnessed a number of different aircrafts come to the South Burlington base.
He says usually the Vermont guard gets hand-me-down planes, but that could change if the new F-35 fighter jet comes here.
"The fact that we're considered for an aircraft right off the assembly line says a lot," said Goodrow.
It's not that Goodrow wants to leave, he has no choice.
A rule passed by congress limits the amount of years he can serve in his role.
But Goodrow says there's nowhere else he'd rather be.
"This is where my heart is, this is where my love is. It's going to be hard to leave this behind," said Goodrow.
Captain Chris Gookin is replacing Goodrow.
The guardsman has served in Afghanistan and Iraq before assuming this position.
As for Goodrow, there will be a formal ceremony for him on Sunday.
