The official number is in and the Army Community Listening Session held Monday in Junction City attracted approximately 4,200 from the region.

John Armbrust, Executive Director of the Governors Military Council confirmed that number for JCPost.com and explained that he was simply amazed by the turnout.

“We started out hoping that maybe we could get 800 and then we thought maybe we could get 1,000 or even 1,200,” said Armbrust. “But what you know what it shows is as we pull together as a whole region, just how powerful we can be. I think that we sent such a positive message to the army about who we are and what we do.”

Armbrust explained that they came to the number 4,200 by the number of stickers that were handed out to each individual who attended the listening session. He added,”Someone also walked around the parking lot and counted up to 16 different counties from Kansas were there.”

The Army is in the process of downsizing, and the information gathered during the listening session and at similar sessions at other military installations across the nation will be used to help make future troop strength and stationing decisions.