Valley veterans celebrate Veterans Day with beers and laughs at AMVETS

WASILLA — AMVETS posts 9 and 11 both held open houses following the Veterans Day ceremony at the Mat-Su Veterans Wall of Honor in downtown Wasilla Wednesday. Local veterans had the chance to see familiar faces and unwind with their like minded brothers and sisters who served in the U.S. military.

“Veterans Day to me, means it’s a time for us to honor those who served and who are serving this country,” AMVETS Post 9 Post Commander Scott Montagne said. “Being honored is the least we can do for veterans.”

Post 9 held a community potluck at their open house. Montagne and several other AMVETS members attended the wall ceremony.

“It was cold,” Montagne said with a laugh.

Montagne said the Mat-Su Veterans Wall of Honor Wall Foundation organizes the wall ceremony every year. Various representatives from each veterans organization in the Valley sit on the foundation’s board of directors.

“It went wonderfully today,” Montagne said. “We still had a great turn out of people. It’s an honor for us for veterans.”

Montagne served in the Air Force for over 20 years. He said the military rounded him out as a person and recommends it to everyone.

“Military life is a very disciplined life... All kids growing up after high school should at least try the military because it just helps… It makes you grow up,” Montagne said with a laugh.

Montagne has been a Valley resident for several years. He said that he moved to Alaska from Colorado and has no interest in ever leaving.

“The Valley has a strong support in its veterans Alaska in general has a strong support for its veterans. That’s pretty much why I’m here. I’m proud of living in Alaska now,” Montagne said.

Every veteran who walked into the post during the open house got a free first drink. Montagne said their support to veterans doesn’t stop after Veterans Day.

“We honor our veterans every day at the post. We’re about the veterans. We’re about the community, the woman and children. That’s who we’re donating to,” Montagne said. “Veterans should be honored throughout the year.”

Montagne said there’s a number of ways Valley residents can honor veterans, namely by simple acts of kindness that can be done in our everyday lives.

“Thank a veteran donate, pay it forward. For example, if you’re in line with them at the store, buy their groceries… Some of them can be struggling,” Montagne said. “Talk to them, especially the older folks.”

Montagne’s wife Barbi followed up on that thought and said, “Just saying hi will do a world of difference.”

Dave Kenison and Mark Siefert shared countless laughs and beers with each other at Post 9. They cracked jokes to anyone and everyone in their sight while sitting at the bar.

“It’s a good place,” Kenison said. “It’s a great organization.”

Kenison is a Marine Corps veteran who retired in 1991. He said that he’s had a fun Veterans Day, getting the chance to pay his respects at the wall ceremony and cut loose at the post afterwards.

“It’s always nice to have a beer with another veteran on veterans day. That’s the way it should be,” Kenison said.

American Legion Post 35 Honor Guard Commander Ken Clark attends the wall ceremony every year. He also serves on the Wall Foundation’s board of directors.

“I’m surprised how many people turned up,” Clark said. “I think it’s very important… It was very encouraging to see.”

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com