Military Appreciation Day slated

Memorial Day is still more than a week away, but Valley residents can get a jump on the day Saturday with the community-wide Military Appreciation Day.

The event will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Alcantra Armory on Bogard Road near the Seward Meridian intersection. There will be a community picnic and performances of patriotic music by the Palmer High School symphonic band and the Houston High School choir, as well as a series of short, topical speeches and presentations. To round out the family-friendly atmosphere, there will be plenty of activities for children and an appearance by four-time iditarod champion Martin Buser, who will bring along a recent litter of puppies.

The event is free, too, thanks to the contributions and help of area businesses and chambers of commerce.

The festivities will have special significance for a number of Valley families who will be saying goodbye to loved ones at the end of the month. Local Army National Guard unit members are scheduled for a one-year deployment to Iraq, so Saturday's event will be a good time to show support and wish them well.

To that end, the festivities will include a presentation of Blue Star flags to family members of those currently serving in the military. In all, 150 flags will be awarded to families, so this community certainly is well represented.

The Blue Star program originated during World War II, when families with loved ones serving in the war hung a flag in their windows. Each blue star on the flag symbolizes one service member. Ten of the flags to be handed out Saturday have more than one star, so local families are doing their part when it comes to service to the country.

Display of the Service Star Banner first came about during World War I. During WWI and WWII most flags were hand-made by mothers across the nation, according to the group Blue Star Mothers of America. One of the most famous flags was that of the five Sullivan brothers, who all perished on the U.S.S. Juneau.

The Valley has long been a place where veterans are held in high esteem. And though Military Appreciation Day comes shortly before Memorial Day, there never can be enough opportunities to honor our veterans and their families, and to say thanks for the service they provide.