"She's an inspiration to so many in Alaska and millions of Americans." Senator Sullivan recognizes Wasilla woman “Alaskan of the Week”

Last week, Wasilla resident Elverda Lincoln celebrated a remarkable achievement, her 100th birthday, with a party at WASI in Wasilla. Those who came out were gifted with a hand sewn potholder from Elverda herself.

On the floor of the U.S. Senate leading up to Elverda’s birthday, Senator Dan Sullivan took time to recognize Elverda, a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II for her birthday, as part of the Senator’s series, “Alaskan of the Week.”

In 1942, in the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Elverda joined the Navy with the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) program. Among other responsibilities, Elverda helped code radio signals and manuals that were used in the Battle of Iwo Jima and during the invasion of the Aleutian Islands by Japan. After the war, in 1950, Elverda and her husband, Bob, a U.S. Marine, came up to Alaska and settled on a homestead in the Matanuska Valley. Elverda now resides at the Wasilla Senior Center where she quilts for many charities, including Quilts of Valor and Children’s Place.

“It is my favorite time of the week here in the U.S. Senate. I like to come down on a regular basis and talk about the Alaskan of the Week,” Senator Sullivan told the Senate floor, explaining that he Alaskan of the Week can be someone who is doing something great for their local community, the State, or the country.

“Maybe it is someone who is helping to actually save the world. That is who we have today--someone who literally helped to save the world…She served in the U.S. Navy during the Second World War. Elverda is a World War II vet, an Alaskan pioneer literally. She is an author, a mother, a grandmother, a great-great-grandmother. She has such an amazing story, and here is the deal: She is turning 100 in a couple of days--100--and is still going strong.”

Senator Sullivan took a few minutes to speak about Elverda, calling her “an inspiration to so many in Alaska and hopefully, after millions of Americans.”

Elverda was born in 1923 in Minnesota as the oldest of 14 kids. She was about 6 years old when the Great Depression began. In her words, there was no work. Her family literally did not know where the next meal was coming from. They ate a lot of soup, she said, and when there was not enough to go around for the 14 kids her parents had to take care of, they just added water to the soup. They were tough times, but she and her family survived.

She said, “We,” like so many other Americans, “were all in the same boat.”

“Then December 7, 1941, happened, and our great Nation was at war. So what did this young woman do? She said she noticed a huge sign in her local post office. You know what the sign was--one of the most famous recruiting posters ever. It was Uncle Sam literally pointing at her. Every day, she said she walked past that sign that said: “I WANT YOU.” She was a patriot, so eventually Elverda heeded Uncle Sam's call, and she joined the Navy--like I said, the WAVES Program. She was soon on a train to New York and on a journey then that took her across the country.”

The senator when on to talk about her accomplishments during her naval service. She was first stationed in Seattle, where she kept track of the exact locations of U.S. ships and enemy ships and planes throughout the Pacific.

She aided in modifying, updating, and correcting naval communications manuals. She also helped to code a great deal of radio signals and manuals that were used in battles like the Battle of Iwo Jima and were also used in the invasion of the Aleutian Islands by Japan.

“A lot of people don't know that Alaska was actually invaded by the forces of Imperial Japan and occupied in the Aleutian Islands. Our military had to go fight brutal battles in the Aleutian Islands to kick out the Japanese on American territory, our great State.

“Like I said, she is an Alaskan of the Week who helped save the world--literally helped save the world”.

Elverda and her husband eventually packed up their car, and they drove north to Alaska. They settled in the Matanuska Valley, and after a few years, built a homestead in Wasilla.

“It's like one big family,” Elverda said. “Our friends range from the preachers to the alcoholics and everybody in between.”

Elverda now lives in the senior center in Wasilla, and she stays busy. She walks every day. She quilts for charities, including Quilts of Valor and quilts for Children's Place. During COVID, she made masks.

She has 5 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. In her hundred years of life--hundred years of wisdom--Elverda attributes her longevity to the following--and this is a great lesson for everybody: living healthy, staying active, being positive, and staying out of other people's business.

“I've loved every minute of my life,” Elverda recently said.

“So, Elverda, thank you for your service to our country. Thank you for your service in the U.S. Navy in WAVES, to the great State of Alaska, and to Wasilla. Thank you for being such a positive inspiration for so many. Happy hundredth birthday from the U.S. Senate. And, of course, congratulations on the great honor of being our Alaskan of the Week.”