CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Air National Guard will not celebrate the 50th anniversary of the C-130 aircraft being in Charleston as originally scheduled Saturday.

It’s a casualty of the federal government shutdown.

The ceremony was scheduled to take place at McLaughlin Air National Guard Base adjacent to West Virginia International Yeager Airport.

“The government must close if there is a lapse in appropriations,” SFC Ariana Shuemake, interim public affairs officer, said. “There are some activities that will continue; however, this was not one of the activities that was considered accepted, according to the Secretary of War.”

The Air Guard will still hold a change of command ceremony Saturday but that will now be private. Commander Col. Bryan Preece is turning things over to n

See Full Page