The Mat-Su Borough Residents Honor the Fallen on Memorial Day 2018

The Veteran’s Wall of Honor was the site of both a poignant and uplifting celebration to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. A large contingent of local residents and dignitaries were in attendance, led by Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association chapter 43-3. After an invocation the colors were raised to half staff by local boy scout and cub scout troops. Speakers began with Tyler Hall, a veteran of the War in Iraq known as Operation Iraqi Freedom. Hall who in 2003 suffered many severe injuries as a result of a homemade bomb that was detonated underneath the vehicle he was riding. Among his injuries included over a hundred breaks to his left leg that was amputated.

Hall who now lives with a prosthetic leg represented US Senator Lisa Murkowski by delivering her speech. “Memorial Day should not be marked by sorrow but sincere tribute and appreciation of those we have lost, the nation they protected and those who stand for it.” Hall read from Murkowski’s speech.

US Senator Dan Sullivan who arrived just in time from a hike of the newly named Gold Star Peak.

Sullivan started by noting “Unbelievable support we have in Alaska for our military. Every military member I talk to and I talk to a lot of them says there is no place like Alaska, no place.” Sullivan honored Korean War Veteran and Palmer resident John Beasley who passed away on May 2nd, 2018. Beasley participated in one of the most storied battles of the Korean War. Veterans of The Battle of the Chosin Reservoir are amongst the most revered in the US Marines. In honoring Beasley, Sullivan stated “This man was a great man who lived a great life and you could tell the reverence this man was held in the Marine Corp and in America. On the last day of his life he was fading and The Secretary of the Navy, The Commandant of the US Marine Corp and the Commanding General of the First Marine Division all called his family and Mr. Beasley.”

Sullivan honored Shane Woods who was killed in action in Iraq in 2006. Sullivan concluded by also honoring Army Veteran Kirk Alkire who was a 1SGT with the 425th Infantry Division. Alkire lead the way in the naming of Gold Star Peak, previously unnamed. “Kirk did this because he was with the Four Twenty Five. This is recent history in Iraq in 2006. When they were over there that brigade lost 53 soldiers, 53 soldiers killed in action. Those are unbelievably high numbers. Young men and women who are sacrificing for our country. And what Kirk did was nothing beyond miraculous… was to get that mountain named. He carries around the dog tags of… he was the First Sergeant of this brigade… all 53 soldiers of those he lost under his command.” Sullivan concluded by reminding those in attendance that though we honor our past and those who sacrificed, that sacrifice continues today. He noted that the Four Twenty Five was returning right now from Afghanistan from a ten month deployment and they had lost two soldiers including one from Wasilla, Staff Sgt. David Brabander. He was 24 years old.

US Representative Don Young took the podium acknowledging the purpose of the day is to honor the tremendous amount of men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. “This reminds me somewhat of going to church on Christmas. More people go to church on Christmas and as soon as Christmas is over they forget Jesus. And we go to Memorial Day and remember but I ask all of you to remember every day. Be part of the pride, be part of those veterans. They came back and served and remembering those that sacrificed.” He stated that he was proud to be a veteran and even more proud of those who went into combat. He urged those who have the opportunity to employ people to employ a veteran. “Bring them home and cherish them, hug them, love them and remember every day they served. That goes for the wives and the children. The sacrifices they made and not for just those that are pulling the trigger. This is a unity for the freedom of this nation.”

Representing the Mat-Su Borough, Deputy Mayor Matthew Beck stood in for Mayor Vern Halter who is in China with the Governor Walker contingency. Beck spoke about he and his family watching the live stream of soldiers returning from Afghanistan. One of those returning was a close personal friend of his. “We traveled with his family the last ten months while he served. Fresh on our minds was the sacrifice of Gabriel Conde who gave his life on April 30th and who served along side of our good friend. And we couldn’t help but cry and cheer and have a heart of thanksgiving for the safe return of our friend and his fellow soldiers but also for the sacrifice of those who gave so much in the defense of our country. So this Memorial Day has a personal meaning for myself and for our family because of that.” He went on to thank the soldiers, their families, friends and those who served alongside of them on behalf of the Mat-Su Borough.

Palmer Mayor Edna Devries and Wasilla Mayor Bert Cottle each read a proclamation recognizing May 25th, 2018 as Memorial Day. Reminding the citizens of their respective cities that the day is a day of honoring those who have sacrificed in service of our country to protect their freedoms as they know them.

The keynote speaker was Chief Master Sergeant Paul Nelson. Nelson is the Alaska National Guard Senior Enlisted Leader. He spoke of a Memorial Day in his past. “It’s Memorial Day and I’m fired up.” He went on to explain why. May 26th, 2003 Nelson was deployed to Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan with the 210th Rescue Squadron of the Alaska Air National Guard. His unit received a call to evacuate a wounded soldier from a forward position. The base they were called to was in the Helmand Province. It was not unusual to take fire from Taliban and Al Qaeda insurgents. “The bottom line”, he went on to say, “this was a dangerous place and we flew there almost on a daily basis.” On this particular day it happened to be Memorial Day. His pilot on that day reminded the crew to reflect on the day. He was feeling very emotional then in his words the weirdest thing happened. His posture improved and his mind became laser focused. His resolve became absolute. He made a pact that on this day he was going to rescue that soldier or die trying. “You know there’s that old saying, live to fight another day. Sometimes there is not another day. Sometimes today is now and this is the time. I believe all soldiers understand this to a certain extent based on their own experience,” That day was uneventful and the mission was accomplished. But it reminded him that when a soldier raises their right hand and swears to defend the Constitution that they write a check risking their very lives. “So, I’m fired up. See the cost of freedom is high but the cost of doing nothing is even higher.” He reminded all of those in attendance that we all at some level share in the sacrifice and though grief can be a healthy part of the process, grief should not cripple us. That those who have fallen would want us to pick each other up, using each other to strengthen our resolve and have a sense of purpose in our society and carry on.

The ceremony concluded with a 21-gun salute and the playing of “Taps”. Then various organizations and individuals laid wreaths at the Wall of Honor to pay their respects. A reception was held inside the cabin adjacent to the Wall.

Further reading: The Chosin Few and Wasilla Soldier Returns Home from Iraq