Veterans honored at the Wall in Wasilla

WASILLA — With a cold wind blowing over the ice-covered concrete at the Veterans Wall of Honor in Wasilla, hundreds gathered to honor men and women who have served in the armed forces for Veterans Day.

At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the 1918 armistice between allied forces in Germany was honored 20 years later as a federally recognized holiday to honor all veterans from all wars. Among those who offered declarations to the crowd of those who had braved the cold to honor Veterans at the Wall of Honor was the Mat-Su Borough Acting Manager George Hays, who served in the armed forces for 41 years and started off by quoting President Ronald Reagan.

“Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they ever made a difference in the world, a veteran doesn’t have that problem,” said Hays.

Veterans from the American Legion post 35 and 15 helped prepare the ceremony along with the VFW Post 9365 and American Veteran’s Post 9 and 11. Before reading a declaration from Mat-Su Borough Mayor Vern Halter who served in the Army, Hays offered his own thoughts.

“I know we veterans make a difference in our country and around the world to keep us free and sometimes to fight those who would take that freedom from us,” said Hays.

A declaration from U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski noted that Alaska’s nearly 70,000 Veterans are first per capita among the United States.

“Whether you are attending an in person event, joining a virtual celebration or offering a simple thank you to a veteran, I encourage everyone to find their own way to honor the brave men and women who have answered the call to serve. They have sacrificed their safety, their time and so much more in the name of American freedom and protection,” wrote Murkowski.

Declarations were read from President Trump, Senator’s Dan Sullivan and Murkowski, Governor Mike Dunleavy, Halter and Wasilla Mayor Glenda Ledford. After those in attendance laid wreaths at the foot of the Wall of Honor, the Honor Guard offered a 21-gun-salute and Taps was played.

“I think it’s incredibly important and it’s beautiful to see all these people out here when the weather is so difficult every year,” said Representative DeLena Johnson.

After the declarations from elected officials were read, Army Veteran Josh Nestler spoke passionately about the meaning of Veterans Day.

“I’m asking everybody here who has a story to share it with somebody else. Share that unique story, reach out to your fellow veteran, hear their story, and that’s part of why I think we’re losing so many of our veterans today is because they don’t have an outlet to tell their story,” said Nestler. “That’s what this wall represents, that’s what every memorial around the nation represents, it represents the veteran and it represents their unique story.”

Nestler served 22 years as a member of the Infantry and currently works with Veterans in Wasilla. Nestler began by discussing his grandfather’s scars from Pearl Harbor and his father’s service in Korea. Senator Dan Sullivan told the story of the five Sullivan sons (of no relation) from Iowa that were lost about the USS Juneau in World War II.

“We are eternally indebted to our veterans for their remarkable and valiant service to the United States of America and we will never forget their selfless allegiance and readiness to put their lives on the line to defend the freedoms of our democracy,” wrote Governor Mike Dunleavy.

The Veterans Day ceremony was held at the Veterans Wall of Honor in Wasilla in front of the new Wasilla Police Department Building. The 13 panels bear the names of hundreds of Veterans both living and dead, as well as the insignia for all six branches of the armed service. The pavilion that was planned to be built this summer got postponed by COVID-19 and will be constructed next summer to cover the standing area in front of the wall.

“Having this ceremony, honoring those who are not able to get out and the people who took their time to put that together for them, that’s incredibly important and it’s incredibly great of our community to come together and do that,” said Representative Cathy Tilton.

Despite the early winter cold, nearly 100 people came to the Veterans Wall of Honor in Wasilla on Veterans Day to honor those who have served in the military.

“Thank you for taking the time to remember our heroes. They never gave up on us and we will never give up on them,” said Wasilla Mayor Glenda Ledford. “Join me in recognizing our veterans and honoring their faithful service to our state, and our nation. God bless all of you, bless our veterans and bless the United States of America.”