[bob deluke]

Ilion is a couple miles from my hometown, Frankfort. Growing up, I remember the company having a large workforce. There were two large buildings across the main drag on town that had a sky bridge connecting the two. Well, urban renewal came through and pretty much destroyed the character of the village. The company has been sold a few times, reducing the work force, making demands to lower wages, reduce labor force. The union was pretty much useless. Major lawsuit over assault rifle killings pretty much nailed the coffin on Remington. They made great hunting rifles. The Mohawk valley has been depressed for years. GE in Utica left years ago, Union Fork and Hoe company in Frankfort closed as well as Sperry Rand. Not a lot of industry left in the area. Remington was a mainstay in the community and will be sorely missed.