The Wisconsin Army National Guard has closed the Berlin Armory, ending nearly 70 years of military history at the facility.
A ceremony was held September 12, marking the closure of the armory, which dates back to 1957. The detachment of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 120th Field Artillery held its final drill period there before the unit’s planned move to Marshfield.
Guard officials say the closure and consolidation are part of a larger modernization effort designed to streamline operations, improve command and control, and increase efficiency across the Wisconsin Army National Guard.
While the move benefits the Guard, military leaders and community members said leaving Berlin was difficult. The armory served not only as a military facility, but also as a polling location, community event space and meeting place for civic groups and schools.
Berlin Mayor Catrina Burgess said generations of residents watched family members train and serve at the armory, creating lasting memories in the community.
Retired Colonel John Morgen, who spent 30 years in the Wisconsin Army National Guard and served in several units based at the Berlin Armory, said the community’s support was deeply valued by the soldiers. He recalled the community welcoming soldiers home following Operation Desert Storm and supporting those who later deployed to locations including Iraq, Japan and Korea.
As a final tribute to the community, the unit fired three rounds from a 105-millimeter howitzer as a final salute to the Berlin Armory.
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