The site of Quonset Point of North Kingstown is the workplace of thousands of Rhode Islanders during the day. At night, the lights of General Dynamics brighten the sky. However, the history of Quonset Point role as a naval air base is increasingly unknown to young Rhode Islanders and knowledge of the trauma Rhode Island endured with the Navy's exodus from the state is steadily sailing into oblivion. At one time, nearly half of the population of several Rhode Island towns were in some way tied, through direct employment or through family, with the Navy and the effects of the reduction of the Navy in Rhode Island, the largest reduction proportional to civilian population, in United States history, still can be seen today.