Chamber Welcomes Belvoir Garrison Commander

Fort Belvoir Garrison Commander Col. Gregory Gadson was welcomed to the neighborhood on Tuesday at The Fairfax military retirement community. More than 80 people attended the event, which was hosted by the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce. 

"We at Fort Belvoir are an integral part of the Mount Vernon-Lee Community," said Gadson to the audience."Even though BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) is over, there are still a lot of exciting construction projects going on base. There's the USO, the Women and Family Center, a 270,000 square foot PX complex that will open next June, and also a new commissary." 

Michael Gailliot, chairman of the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce, welcomed Gadson. "Fort Belvoir is an important part of our community and a critical component of our national defense," he said. "A list of organizations who call Fort Belvoir home reads like a 'Who's Who' at the Department of Defense… If Fort Belvoir were a private business it would be the largest employer in Fairfax County."

Gadson, who took command in June, was wounded in Iraq in 2007, and is the first bi-lateral amputee to command an Army installation. He also starred in the film "Battleship", and the Chamber showed a two-minute clip of Gadson in action from an Entertainment Tonight profile. 

"I want you all to know that our doors are open and we really value your opinion and concerns, because we are only going to be as strong as our weakest link," said Gadson. "Your voice matters and we want to listen."