THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT  
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, March 2, 1995                TAG: 9503020021
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A12  EDITION: FINAL  
TYPE: Editorial
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   61 lines

CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION: ***************************************************************** A statement by Art Collins, chairman of the Hampton Roads Regional Planning District Commission, was mistakenly attributed to U.S. Rep. Norman Sisisky in a story Wednesday on the impact of base-closing recommendations in an editorial Thursday, ``The military and survival.'' The quote was, ``All branches of the military recognized, in this era of jointness, that Hampton Roads offers a world-class military environment . . . that is a resource that could not reasonably be diminished.'' The quote appeared twice in Wednesday's story - the first time attributed correctly to Collins. Correction published Saturday, March 4, 1995 on page A2. ***************************************************************** CAN AREA MATCH DEFENSE GAINS WITH PRIVATE ONES? THE MILITARY AND SURVIVAL

Hampton Roads can do more than sigh collectively with relief that the military base closings recommended this week would largely spare the region, would even, as a result of the consolidating that comes with the shrinking, expand military presence here.

We can in fact all join in shouting hooray and giving three cheers.

If the Pentagon proposals announced Tuesday survive coming rounds in the downsizing process - and historically more than 80 percent have survived - Virginia Beach will see the most dramatic buildup through eventual additions of personnel and aircraft at the Naval Air Station at Oceana. Portsmouth will enjoy expansion of functions and possibly as many as 500 jobs at the Naval Shipyard there.

But localities throughout the region can expect to benefit. Because the gains more than offset the losses, the economy of the region as a whole should remain more stable than will those of many other places traditionally dependent on a large military payroll.

The welcome news from Washington is a tribute to both the vigor and the cooperation of Virginia's members of Congress and local and regional officials in telling Hampton Roads' strong military story. It is a tribute, too, to the kinds of installations that have been developed over the years here. In many cases, it would have made no sense to dismantle efficient, interdependent operations, negating huge investments of tax dollars.

Rep. Norman Sisisky of the 4th District said: ``All branches of the military recognized, in this era of jointness, that Hampton Roads offers a world-class military environment . . . that is a resource that could not reasonably be diminished.''

All this said, the major responsibility facing the region's leaders now is to pursue with equal vigor - and, even more important, equal cooperation - promotion of Hampton Roads as a world-class civilian environment as well. by CNB