This page is about community spirit. The kind of ingredients that helps a municipality and its surroundings grow, thrive and nurture into a place that deserves the privilege of being called "our home town".
But, that's a two way street. The community fathers must respond to the requirements of its new residents. And in turn its new neighbors must support and react to those programs that improve the welfare of their newly found community. And that's exactly what happened!!
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| Heath Proclamation |
The mutual partnership that existed for over 34 years between the Air Force residents and the community was unusual. It isn't often that in a small community of a little over 40 thousand in the early 60s finds itself with an influx of a couple thousand new Air Force neighbors. When the new Heath facility (often referred to as the missile plant by its neighbors) opened in 1962, it created a host of complex problems for housing, schools, stores as well as recreational facilities and the arts. By 1963 the population of the area had grown to over 44 thousand but thanks to a great number of new home starts, apartments, shopping centers and the like, the communities of both Heath and nearby Newark reacted positively to the needs of its new found residents. As the years passed and the Air Force population and families grew in size and need, new schools, colleges, technical centers and hospitals were either constructed or enlarged to meet the requirements.
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| Pre-60's Parade on Route 79 |
The Centers employees also responded. Almost to the individual civilian, military or on-site contractor alike, they actively participated in community programs or self generated projects that improved the welfare of their community. Whether it be a new hospital, a school, a YMCA or a united appeal fund raiser they gave freely of their time and money. Life giving blood from the very earliest beginning of the Center became the employees special gift to the community. There was hardly a Christmas or Thanksgiving that a group of Center employees failed to distribute gifts to the children's home or food for the sick and needy. The majority of incidents that occurred were published with background and photographs in the installations newspaper "On Target" beginning in 1965 bi-monthly for almost 30 years. Hundreds or more of these stories which resulted we find worthy of your attention and more than likely you will find them interesting; and for some will probably refresh old memories. But, because of the volume involved they will be introduced incrementally and added to the home page periodically. With exception of our first topic, "The Heath Proclamation", we plan to begin our selections from the early years of the Centers "On Target", the mid 1960s and move forward. So if there is a specific project of community interest you know occurred, we advise you to check the Web Page frequently and be patient.
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Now, for our first topic. It occurred on the occasion of the Centers 15th year anniversary in 1978. We have selected this item as the first in our series regardless of its vintage because of its acknowledgment by that time of the Centers many voluntary contributions to the communities welfare.
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Be advised also that a direct linkage with the City of Heath's Web Site has been established with this Site. We encourage you to visit their site after you visit with us by returning to our main page and clicking on the ICON . . . Links.
Click here and . . Our Home Town . . presentation will begin