It’s never too late for ‘welcome home’

Friday was Veterans Day again at the Veterans and Pioneers Home in Palmer as 30 local veterans were recognized and given a heartfelt welcome home — some six decades removed from their service.

The standing-room-only presentation was a heartfelt and genuine example of patriotism as the men and women were presented with Alaska Honorable Service Medals. For them, Friday’s touching and simple tribute wasn’t to single out individual acts of heroism under fire or extraordinary super-human efforts in the line of duty. It was an acknowledgment of simply doing one’s duty and to give veterans a proper and respectful “welcome home” they all deserve.

It came as no surprise that Wasilla resident Maurice Bailey is at the heart of this effort, bringing the Honorable Service Medals to Alaska, modeled on a program in Oregon. You may remember Bailey as the 2007 recipient of the Governor’s Veterans Advocacy Award. He’s also the founder of Veterans Aviation Outreach, a grassroots effort to connect veterans in the Bush with the vital services they need.

For those aging veterans at the Pioneers Home, Friday was a proud day. For some of these men and women from all branches and eras of service, this was the first “thank you” or “welcome home” they’ve received for their sacrifices and efforts for their country.

Bert Hall, a tireless Valley veterans advocate and chair of the state’s Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Advisory Council, correctly summed up the sprit of the Honorable Service Medal presentation: “We like to think that Veterans Day should be every day of the year.”

Sadly, this sentiment is often lost in the politics of the day and emotional protests of policy. Those who choose to serve, however, simply do what they’re ordered to do to the best of their abilities — and they do so not for politics, but for kin and country. Recognized Friday:

• Moses Bortrow

• George Chapman

• Norbert Chowaniec

• David Cote

• Thurston Dobson

• Christopher Dotur

• Clarence Furman

• Jack Gannon

• James Hart

• William Hecker

• Ed Homme

• Clifford Hudson

• Johan Johnson

• Tony Jurasek

• Ralph Keen

• Jack Leonard

• Richard Lowe

• Robert Meilke

• Harold Newcomb

• Forrest Powell

• Bill Shannon

• Bob Sibold

• Larry Svedin

• Thelma Tomlinson

• Ed Walker

• Bernard Whalen

• Ed Willis

• Ed Wilson

• David E. Young

• Travis D. Young

Like Bailey, Hall and other past recipients of the Alaska Honorable Service Medal, you have our thanks. And you’ll certainly have these simple, yet powerful, words from us — welcome home.