Fort George G. Meade: The First 100 Years

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THE FIRST 100 YEARS
responded to in their day. Fort Meade continues to be a
place for people to live, work, play, and serve.
We reflect on the transformation that Fort Meade
has made on the region. The Governor of Maryland
pursued siting a cantonment area at Annapolis Junction
because he believed it would be an economic engine for
future development. How right he was! Fort Meade’s
contribution to the state’s economy dwarfs that of any
other single employer in the state. It has changed forever
the character of central Maryland and raised the standard
of living dramatically in adjacent jurisdictions.
While this book offers a history of a place and the
milestones which mark its path, it also contains little
known facts, small stories and personal memories of how
Fort Meade touched the lives of individuals throughout
the century. Ultimately, any history is about the people,
not the place. So in this centennial observance, let us
reflect on all those who have gone before this generation,
all those in uniform who passed through the gates of this
post. We know many met death on far off battlefields;
others suffered crushing wounds. Then let us remember
the dedicated civilian work force on this post that kept
it running in peace and war–those who provided clean
water, power, child care, and recreation; those who
ensured service members were paid, fed, and supplied.
Finally, as this story is told, think of the children who
grew up on this post and went to school here; the spouses
who took care of their families and each other. They
made it a home. In this richness of experience, in these
hundreds of thousands of individual stories, lies the true
history of Fort Meade’s first 100 years.
Finally, a centennial is a time for renewal. Through the
acts of remembrance and reflection we realize that we
are part of something much greater than ourselves. By
connecting with our history and reflecting on what has
changed and what is the same, we are ourselves renewed.
We can look to the next hundred years knowing that, just
as the doughboys would not have been able to foresee
or even conceive of cyber warfare, we are completely
incapable of anticipating what mission Fort Meade will
be tackling in 2117. We need to continue to add to the
foundation that has enabled Fort Meade to respond to all
the changes which it has faced in its first 100 years. Our
lives are now intertwined with that of a great institution–
in the state, in the Army, and in the nation. What we do
today will be part of the story that others tell 100 years
from now. It is up to us to carry on the traditions and
build the future that will belong to Fort George G. Meade.
***
(Right) Garrison HQ, Pershing Hall and Hale Hall from
above.
(Below) Flanked by his wife, Leanne, Col. Kenneth McCreedy
accepts a certificate of appreciation from Maj. Gen. Richard J.
Rowe, Jr., commanding general of Joint Force Headquarters
National Capital Region and the U.S. Army Military District
of Washington, July 17, 2008.