The Virginia National Guard officially locks the doors and turns out the lights for the final time today at the armory on Reserve Avenue.

A 10 a.m. ceremony marks the guard's move away from its Roanoke home of the past half-century ahead of the demolition of the city-owned building.

City plans designate the entire block, including former parks and recreation offices and a school maintenance building, to be cleared for a public park, Assistant City Manager Jim Grigsby said.

Once intended for the city's much-debated amphitheater project, the land now is slated to remain green space until planning is done on how to develop it, Grigsby said.

The land to be cleared is near ball fields built on the site of the demolished Victory Stadium.

The closing of the armory caused four guard units based in Roanoke to shift to Danville, Lynchburg, Petersburg and Virginia Beach.

Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Morris was taking care of final moving chores at the armory Friday. He said that the National Guard's recruiting office, where he works, already is open in its new location at National College's campus at 1813 E. Main St. in Salem.

-- Mike Gangloff