Tree planting honors veterans

PALMER -- A light rain and cold weather didn't deter a group of local Cub and Boy Scouts that turned out to recognize both Arbor Day and Memorial Day with a tree-planting ceremony at the Veterans Grove adjacent to the Palmer Visitors' Center.

"This is a way for we leaders and Scouts to pay tribute to our veterans," said Cubmaster Chuck Kaucic to the assembled crowd. "We hope that these trees will provide a reminder of our dedication for years to come."

Kaucic discussed, with the help of comments from his troop, the meaning of honor, dedication, and other prominent symbolic words. Kaucic's speech was followed by a series of awards and commendation badges given to Scouts for their conservation efforts at the Grove and community service activities elsewhere.

The trees are meant to establish an enduring memory of not only the veterans, but to the community's efforts to preserve the grove. "These trees will be a legacy down the road," said Kaucic.

Father Leo Desso from Saint Michael's Catholic Church gave an invocation to the assembled Scouts, parents and military personnel prior to the presentation of the flags by Troop 367's color guard. Refreshments were provided by American Legion Post #15, which also helped with the dedication ceremony.

A round of patriotic songs such as "This Land is Your Land" and "America the Beautiful" accompanied the tree-planting ceremony, which added a new sapling to the grove of trees dedicated to the Valley's veterans.

Among the military guests at the meeting were Brigadier General Thomas Westall from the Alaska State Defense Force, Major Alison Queair from the Army, Petty officer Angela Lucero from the Navy, Captain John Erickson from the Alaska Air National Guard, Sergeant Trim from the Marine Corps and Damage Controlman Second Class Joe Crockett from the Coast Guard.

General Westall is the highest-ranking officer ever to visit the Palmer Veterans Grove.

His organization, the Alaska State Defense Force, played a prominent role in Monday's ceremony.

The Alaska State Defense Force is a military force comprised of Alaskans, a group that exercises statewide police power when called to service by the Governor. Its constituents cannot be called outside of the state for federal service or other active duty, unlike Alaska's National Guard. It has its roots in the Alaska Territorial Guard organized during World War II to guard Alaska's coastline.

As a member of the Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, the ASDF is directly accountable to both its own commanding officers and the Governor.

ASDF soldiers undergo 150 hours of training on weekends at an Anchorage academy.

There are ASDF battalions located in Juneau, Anchorage, Fairbanks, Ft. Richardson, Seward, Valdez, and Whittier. These battalions cover everything from coastal command to military police and signals. In addition, an aviation regiment is based at the Wasilla airport. In the past, the ASDF has participated in not only civic activities for veterans and the Iditarod Restart, but also aided in relief efforts during the flooding in Southcentral during 1995, the Miller's Reach Fire in 1996 and the Turnagain Pass Avalanche Recovery in 1999.

The ASDF comprises over 300 active members, roughly 75 percent of whom have prior military experience.

Contact Daniel Spoth at daniel.spoth@frontiersman.com.