The Gathering--Military Tribute Paid in Alaska

The flags were carried into the ceremony area on horseback, then passed off to be set up for the ceremony. Nothing fancy, but meaningful in its simplicity.

At one point, as the flags were being carried through the area, I turned around to discover that Sen. Mark Begich and his son Jacob were standing right behind me. Sen. Begich is a member of the National Veterans Affairs Committee and is a common site at such events.

I didn't have the best angle for photos, but this is the beginning of the Fallen Warriors Memorial tribute. It begins as a rifle is brought into the circle, then placed barrel down to form a sort of base for the rest of the symbolic pieces of the whole. Each item, such as the helmet, is brought in separately and put in place with great care and respect.

You'll get a better look at the base of the memorial in another photo, but I found this a touching segement. After the rifle, a helmet, boots (and dog tags) are combined to make the memorial, a rose is added to symbolize those left behind to mourn.

A salute to all fallen warriors

An invocation was offered, both in English and the Native Language.

The full memorial

If only...."Give peace a chance...." if only the world would listen.

The group presenting the Fallen Warrior Memorial today was

the Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club.

Inside Raven Hall, the tables were decked out in

patriotic splendor

On the west end of the hall, a car displayed a 9-11

"Never forget" theme.

Sen. Begich took the stage first with son Jacob.
Jacob made headlines himself prior to his dad's swearing in
ceremony when he yelled out to Obama as they waited in a Capitol
(I think it was) Building Hallway, making all the media cameras
swivel to capture that unscripted moment.

Change was on a lot of people's minds, not to mention
depicted on the tailgate of a truck.

I'm not ashamed to say that I let the patriotic theme on the truck
draw me away from Sen. Begich's talk briefly. This design was
on both truck doors.

One has to think that Jacob may have been wondering when all the talk
and handshakes would be over so he could have his father to himself. It's
something we don't think about, the demands we put on our elected reps
also impact family members, but Jacob seems to be a trooper.

Wasilla Mayor Vern Rupright


Mat-Su Borough Assemblyman Mark Ewing

These were part of the awards to be distributed

As I wandered, I spied a face that has become familiar to me of late,
that of Bob Poe, who has announced his candidacy for Alaska State
Governor in the next election. With him is "Mo", one of the events
key organizers, and Poe's wife Terzah, who I'd only "met" on Facebook
until today. I'd connected with her because we share a birthday (and
they like huskies!), little knowing her husband was "someone". In
any case, it was great to finally meet her in person and be able to say
for real, "I know Bob Poe!"


I did know about Sen. Lisa Murkowski's skiing accident but had
no clue it had been so serious. As I'd find out after the event, she had
surgery this week, so kudos to her for still making the effort to be at the
veterans event, wheelchair and all. I'd hoped to get a chance to meet her,
as I had Sen. Begich (I did the political groupie thing and got his autograph,
too), but she looked tired, so I settled for a quick, "Get better fast, Lisa!"


They make 'em tough here in Alaska. Althought she didn't
attempt the stage, Sen. Murkowski did stand to speak to those
gathered at the event. You go, Lisa!

A quick write-up I did here before getting a chance to add photos, hence some repetition:

The Gathering is a fundraiser for Veterans Aviation Outreach, a 501 C3 organization of veterans and pilots who assist other veterans all over the State of Alaska. It honored veterans from all eras as well as their families and friends. There were tables set up in Raven Hall at the Alaska Fairgrounds with info and handhouts on not just veteran affairs, but community ones, so it was an interesting afternoon. Heck, they were having a BBQ, so you know it was fun, country music -- live country music -- and speakers that included not just Wasilla Mayor Vern Rupright and Mat-Su Borough Rep Mark Ewing, but Senators Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski. Begich sits on the National Veterans Affairs Committee and has close bonds with veteran organizations, as does Murkowski. I even got into the political groupie mode and got an autograph from Sen. Begich, who was there with his son Jacob, and spent some time talking to Bob Poe and his wife Terzah. I'd hoped to chat with Lisa a bit but she arrived in a wheelchair and was looking a bit tired, so I settled for snapping a few photos and wishing her a quick recovery from the surgery that she had on her knee this week. She took a fall some time back at Alyeska and this was to help with that slow recovery process. Good on her for showing up, wheelchair and all!