Rolla armory dedicated for late governor

ROLLA, Mo. -- A Missouri National Guard armory was dedicated for the late Gov. Mel Carnahan at a ceremony here Sunday.

"Of his many responsibilities over the years, there was no role he took more seriously than commander-in-chief of the Missouri National Guard," the governor's widow, U.S. Sen. Jean Carnahan, D-Mo., told 200 people at the dedication ceremony.

"My family and I are deeply grateful for this memorial honor."

The renovated armory was renamed the Mel Carnahan Memorial Armory and Reserve Center and now includes a display about the former governor's life. The Carnahan family home is near Rolla.

The governor was killed along with his son, Randy, and political aide Chris Sifford in an airplane crash Oct. 16, 2000. At the time, Carnahan was campaigning for the U.S. Senate. Voters elected him anyway, and his widow was appointed to the seat.

The Rolla armory is home to the National Guard's 1438th Engineers and the U.S. Army Reserves' 424th General Support Maintenance Company.