In remembrance: Wasilla resident gathers, distributes thank-yous

WASILLA -- In an effort to thank local emergency services personnel -- the people many Alaskans don't think about until they're in a time of crisis -- Wasilla resident Julie Baird was surprised by how eager local officials were to express their thanks as well.

Baird said she was thinking last Thursday about the upcoming anniversary of the terrorist attacks that occurred Sept. 11, 2001, and wondered how to recognize local emergency responders. Suddenly, she had an idea -- why not give elected officials a chance to share their support of emergency responders?

"It just popped in my head. I'd like to credit the Lord Jesus for helping me," Baird said. "I believe I share the thoughts of many people across the nation, and I just decided to do something about it."

Baird quickly purchased "Thank You" cards for Wasilla fire responders, Wasilla Police Department personnel and staff at Valley Hospital Medical Center in Wasilla. She wrote up an e-mail that she sent out Thursday to the offices of every official who represents Wasilla -- from U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens' office to state representatives to the Mat-Su Borough and city of Wasilla.

"I am not part of any organization," Baird wrote in the e-mail. "I'm just one individual who desires to respect and remember what happened on 09/11/01 by sending … a thank-you letter of appreciation and I thought perhaps all or most of you would like to join me by authorizing your name on the card."

Baird said she was surprised at the response -- after sending the e-mail Thursday, she received letters or calls of confirmation from nearly everyone on her list.

The only invitees who did not respond, she said, were U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who was on a flight when Baird sent the letter and wouldn't land until after the letters were distributed Friday afternoon, and U.S. Rep. Don Young, who was also unable to be reached for response before the letters were distributed. Eleven officials did add their names to the card, Baird said, and she appreciated their fast response.

"Everyone was so impressed and just excited to participate in sending the card," Baird said. "I got a lot of wonderful responses."

The responses allowed Baird to type in each official's name, and she took the liberty of adding in "the people of Wasilla," instead of her personal signature.

"It's not about me," Baird said. "It's about them [the responders] and the tremendous things they do to serve Wasilla. I think it would be safe to say, if all of them could be here today, I'm sure they would be. I know they would love to express their appreciation -- everyone would."

Area residents may have an opportunity to voice their own appreciation at the fourth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C.

Next year, Baird said, she hopes to have cards ready ahead of time, so she can allow officials to sign the card, instead of having typewritten signatures. She'd like to expand the effort to include construction workers, to recognize those in the industry for their work in dismantling and rebuilding both the Pentagon and buildings at the World Trade Center site.

She said she hopes to place sheets of paper at local businesses or offices so area residents can add their signatures of support, as well.

"I didn't have time to get everybody's signature throughout the Valley," Baird said. "I thought, 'I'll just get as many political people to sign it as I can, and maybe next year I'll start earlier and get the whole community to … sign it.'"

When presented with the card, staff and responders at the Central Mat-Su Fire Department thanked Baird and said they'd display the card so all responders could see it before sending it along to other Division of Emergency Services offices. Department staff said they received several gifts and thank-yous from people last week, and were pleased to be recognized.

"It's awesome," said Tara Mellon, an emergency responder who works at Central Mat-Su Fire Department.

Contact Rindi White at rindi.white@frontiersman.com.