SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. -
F 35 supporters rallied at the Sheraton in South Burlington Sunday, throwing their support behind bringing the fighter jet to the Green Mountain Boys.
"We must make sure our Vermont Air National Guard has the equipment necessary to keep us safe, to defend us and we must never forget," rally organizer Nicole Citro said.
F 35 advocates wore green bows to show their support for bringing the fighter jet to Vermont.
"What this situation is is trying to secure the future for the Air Guard," Citro said.
Citro hosted a number of Guard members including Adjutant General Elect Steven Cray.
"I feel very confident that the Secretary of the Air Force will make the decision to bring the F 35 here," General Elect Cray said.
"I think it's the right decision and it's an investment in Vermont for the next 30 to 40 years for sure."
The Green Ribbon rally gathered up ABOUT 200 supporters for the F 35 but recently the F 35 was grounded because of mechanical issues. But General Elect Cray says that's not something unusual.
"They'll get through it. They'll figure out the problem and they'll correct it. But it's all about safety," General Elect Cray said.
General Elect Cray says that other than the F 35 there aren't many options to keep the Vermont Air National Guard at the level of personnel it's at right now.
"There's not a menu of options out there, a menu of missions for us to just choose from," General Elect Cray said.
Many people who live in South Burlington and Winooski area would rather the F 35 not be the main course at the Air Guard but Citro says the plane doesn't make the difference.
"They (F 35 opponents) have a problem with the F 16 they'll have a problem with the F 35. Not because it's any louder but because they have a problem with jet noise or they don't appreciate the military but not because this jet is significantly louder," Citro said.
There is a preliminary report on the environmental impact of the F 35 in Vermont that says the plane would have a greater noise presence than the F 16. A final draft of that report is coming out in late April or early May and the Secretary of the Air Force will make the decision of where to place F 35 thirty days later.
