Murkowski honors Wasilla WWII Veteran for his service

On Monday, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski took time to honor World War II veteran Harry Olivas of Wasilla, Alaska. The 97-year-old Olivas served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. For his distinguished service, Mr. Olivas was eligible for several campaign medals, but never received them.

“Mr. Olivas fought in four different campaigns during World War II, but had yet to receive certain of his pins and medals. And so, this morning, in an impromptu ceremony, I was able to present him with two of his pins and four medals from his participation and service in World War II,” said Senator Murkowski.

The impromptu ceremony was part of a larger ceremony honoring the 10th anniversary mission of the Last Frontier Honor Flight, a program that celebrates Alaska’s war Veterans with a trip to Washington D.C. at no cost to the veterans. While there, veterans have the opportunity to visit memorials dedicated to honor their services and sacrifices.

The Honor Flight Network program was the brain child of Earl Morse, a physician assistant and Retired Air Force Captain, who wanted to honor the veterans he had taken care of for the past 27 years. Upon his retirement from the Air Force in 1998, Morse worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs in a small clinic in Springfield, Ohio. While there, the World War II Memorial was completed and dedicated in May of 2004, and quickly became the topic of discussion among his World War II veteran patients.

Within the next year, volunteers helped raised funds for the first Honor flight, that year taking 12 veterans out to Manassas, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C. Vans then transported the pilots and veterans into D.C. and to the World War II Memorial.

Due to the success of those inaugural flights, other flights were planned and made, at one point with so many veterans wanting to participate that commercial aircraft were used to accommodate 40 veterans at a time, including many in wheelchairs. By the end of the 2005, Honor Flight had transported 137 World War II veterans to their memorial.

The Last Frontier Honor Flight is the only hub of the Honor Flight Network in Alaska, with top priority going to WWII, Alaska Territorial Guard, Korean War Veterans and terminally ill veterans from all wars.

Upon learning about Olivas’ story, Senator Murkowski and her team worked to ensure that Olivas could receive the awards he earned. After reaching out to the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy, it was determined that Olivas was eligible for several campaign medals. Senator Murkowski’s office coordinated with the Navy to obtain the medals for Mr. Olivas before his Last Frontier Honor Flight to Washington, DC.

“To be here this morning and make the day particularly meaningful for a World War II veteran was absolutely beautiful,” she said. Also on hand for the spontaneous ceremony was Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan, who is a Colonel in the United States Marine Corps Reserves.

To honor Olivas’ service to our nation, Senator Murkowski presented him with the following medals during an impromptu ceremony on the National Mall: American Campaign Medal; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; Honorable Service Lapel Pin (Ruptured Duck); and the Navy Honorable Discharge Pin.

“We’re so thankful for all those who have served our country, but particularly thankful for our Alaska veterans.”

For more information about Last Frontier Honor Flight, please visit www.lastfrontierhonorflight.com