Sablich Center reopens Published April 9, 2008 By Susan Griggs 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS. -- There's no place like home. The people who work in Sablich Center and the customers they serve breathed a collective sigh of relief April 3 as the building reopened after major repairs in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Gen. Duncan McNabb, Air Force vice chief of staff, joined members of the Sablich family, civic leaders, Keesler military members, civilians and retirees for the ribbon-cutting ceremony on the front steps of the facility. Col. Greg Touhill, 81st Training Wing commander, noted that he had in-processed as a new second lieutenant at Sablich Center more than 24 years ago. He recalled the original opening in 1978, its years of service as the heart of Keesler's support activities and the devastation as Katrina slammed Keesler, Aug. 29, 2005. "Katrina's winds took its roof, and Katrina's rain soaked the inside of the building, but it didn't soak the spirit of Keesler's men and women," Colonel Touhill said. Acknowledging the 31 months in which offices were displaced, he added, "It has taken some time to get this building back in shape. Today we renew our ties to the past. Right now, I can tell you that Sablich Center is ready to rock and roll and do the mission." The colonel pointed out the refurbished facility, which cost nearly twice the $3.8 million for original construction, meets the essential needs of Keesler well into the 21st century. "Its 143,000 square feet will once again hold the agencies that were there before, but with new state-of-the-art building systems that make it more efficient and livable," he said. The structure boasts sparkling ceramic tile floors, restored walls and ceilings, new air conditioning and heating systems, updated communications infrastructure, modern fire suppression system and the latest voice-over-Internet protocol telephone system. Colonel Touhill paid special tribute to Army Air Force Sgt. Julius Sablich, a native Biloxian killed in action during World War II, for whom the building is named. "Those of you who will be working in this fine new building are the keepers of the tradition and honor personified by Julius Sablich," he said. During a reception in the lobby after the ceremony, many people who work there expressed their relief at being "back home." "It's a little surreal -- we've been preparing for this for two years, and it's hard to believe we're really here," said Lt. Col. Paul Valenzuela, 81st Mission Support Squadron commander. "We still have a little settling in to do, but we're probably about 80 percent there." "I'm ecstatic," declared Steve McDaniel, a community readiness consultant at the airman and family readiness center who sang the national anthem at the ceremony. He's sure his sinus problems will ease up now that he's back in Sablich Center instead of Hangar 2, which had been slated for demolition before Katrina. He still remembers his first visit to Sablich Center 24 years ago as an active-duty member when his family arrived at Keesler from Torrejon Air Base, Spain. "I had never been anywhere like it during my military moves," observed Mr. McDaniel, a retired security forces member. "It was a one-stop shop where we could do all of our in-processing business. "It's a blessing to get all of these offices back in one location again," he added.