Buser takes military on the Iditarod Trail

As Martin Buser makes his way to Nome along the Iditarod Trail, he is carrying with him an entire group of Army Reservists.

On the trail, Buser is carrying a list of the U.S. Army Reserve 411th Battalion, which is currently in Hawaii awaiting deployment to Iraq. Many of the members are from the Valley.

"There are 70 Alaskans, with lots from the Valley, and it's a way to show the families that the community is really supporting them," said Deb Weisman, who has a son in the battalion. "It's a way for our boys from Alaska to go on the Iditarod Trail with Martin."

Buser is taking the list to Nome, and there, he's planning on having other mushers sign it.

The list will then be sent to the soldiers, who will be stationed in Iraq shortly. The battalion left Fort Richardson in January and has been stationed in Hawaii since then.

"They know they're going, and the support really means a lot to them, and the families," Weisman said. "When we talked to Martin, we told him that when you go on the trail, the whole community encourages you."

Military appreciation dinner set

In other military news, there is a tribute to military personnel scheduled for today at Evangelo's in Wasilla. "A Tribute To Military Personnel" begins at 6:30 p.m. with a buffet dinner, and the program begins at 7 p.m. Col. (Ret.) Tom Greco from Eagle, Idaho is presenting his life experiences leading an air assault infantry battalion task force in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. Special music is being provided by Janet R, a singer and songwriter from KGOT.

Tickets are $25 at the door. For more information, interested people can call Kathy at 376-1016 or Arliss at 357-8220.

ARMY PVT. MICHAEL L. POPPERT has graduated from basic training at Fort Sill in Lawton, Okla.

Poppert is a 2002 graduate of Burchell High School. He is the son of Cathy and David Poppert of Wasilla.

AIR NATIONAL GUARD AIRMAN KENT Q. BRYANT has graduated from basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

Bryant is a 2003 Palmer High School graduate and is the son of Larry and Frances Bryant of Palmer.

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD PVT. GABRIEL BAKST, Army National Guard Pvt. Gabriel S. Bakst has arrived at Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Ala., to complete the ammunition specialist advanced individual training course. Bakst is the son of Kathryn Bakst of Palmer.

NAVY SEAMAN MATTHEW WARD, a 2003 graduate of Mid Valley High School recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill.