Picnic honors service

July 29, 2007

By Will Elliott/Frontiersman

WASILLA - More than 1,000 Mat-Su Valley residents turned out here Friday evening for the Governor's Picnic, the first of eight events around the state to recognize the sacrifices of U.S. servicemen and women and introduce the governor and her commissioners to Alaskans.

Gov. Sarah Palin and Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell also swore in new District 14 state Rep. Wes Keller, who replaces Vic Kohring. Kohring faces trial for oil industry-related bribery and extortion charges and maintains his innocence.

A host of nonprofits, community groups and businesses pitched in to prepare free hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn and ice cream for what organizers estimated to be 1,000 to 1,500 picnickers. The governor's commissioners served the food and shook hands with residents under the largest of the events' many pavilions pitched at the Wasilla Iditapark and Veterans' Memorial.

Families visited attractions ranging from an Army National Guard climbing wall to a miniature art gallery by the Valley Arts Alliance as bands performed on an outdoor stage.

"We're here to show our appreciation for the military," said Suzie Gouea of Boy Scout Troop 300. The scouts manned a root beer float stand.

The night's highlight was an address by Palin, newly returned from a visit of Alaska servicemen and women stationed in Germany, Kuwait and Iraq.

&#8220It's so good to be home,” she said.

Since the beginning of the Iraq war four years ago, 95 people from the Valley have been killed in the conflict. So far an estimated 655,000 people have died as a result of the Iraq war, according to study by Johns Hopkins University researchers. President George W. Bush disputes that figure, putting the number at around 100,000.

&#8220It was a life-changing experience to understand what they're going through,” the governor said of the military and the private military contractors who outnumber U.S. troops in Iraq. &#8220I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say thank you.”

Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell of the Alaska National Guard thanked the community for its support of troops and veterans.

&#8220Nowhere else in the U.S. supports veterans as much as the Valley,” Campbell said, citing the Valley's frequent festivals and numerous memorials. Campbell also said Palin was one of the few governors who has volunteered to visit Iraq, a trip he called dangerous.

Palin said the troops never complained of the conditions and said they were honored to serve. During the visit, the temperature climbed to 127 degrees, with 140 degrees in Baghdad. Palin was inspired by the troops' fortitude under those conditions and thankful for what she called the luxury in which Americans live.

&#8220Let's quit complaining about the petty stuff and keep the big picture in perspective,” Palin said.

Palin and other dignitaries then passed out flags to anyone who had family from the Valley on active duty in the military. A long line formed, many people with two or more family members on duty, some of those on as many as their fourth tour in Iraq. One woman's shirt read, &#8220Part of the Silent Ranks,” while another's said, &#8220Half of my Heart is in Iraq.” Nearly 500 people from the Valley are on active duty around the world.

The flags are red and white, with one or more blue stars in the center representing the service members deployed. Bert Hall of the Alaska Veterans Advisory Council explained the custom originated in World War I when the flags were hung in the windows of homes of soldiers.

A grandmother who came forward to accept a flag found she suddenly couldn't recall the names of her grandchildren in the service, but helpful audience members called out the names for her.

After the troops and families were honored, newly appointed Rep. Keller took his oath of office as photographers crowded in.

&#8220It's not the oath of office, but the character of the person taking the oath” that matters, Parnell told the crowd.

A beaming Keller said he was excited, humbled and intimidated all at once, but that he felt energized by the support he was seeing.

&#8220It's nice to know you've got a little bit of a mandate. That's not the same as a vote,” Keller said, but he plans to win the community's vote in the next election. Keller was appointed by the governor to fill Kohring's seat until then. In the meantime, the community's support is allowing Keller to be confident in his new role as Wasilla's state representative.

After the ceremonies, Palin presided over a giant cake, which Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cheryl Metiva said would feed 1,000 people. Metiva and Colleen Sullivan-Leonard of the governor's staff headed up the picnic's organizing committee, comprised of local businesspeople and community members.

&#8220It's just so exciting to see businesses and nonprofits and the community all coming together to share an amazing event like this,” Metiva said. .