Every year at the end of May, the men and women who have given their lives in sacrifice and in service are honored and remembered. There are several traditions that take place every year including putting the flag up at half-mast, joining a parade or visiting a cemetery in memory of a loved one who served.
While, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance, it is also a day to celebrate freedom. Without those who sacrificed and their families, freedom would not be ours to enjoy. Many people celebrate freedom with a family picnic or barbeque, attend a festival or open up their pool. While it is a day of remembrance, it also signifies the start of summer for some, as well. Summer is the freedom to celebrate warm weather after a long winter.
In Alaska, beginning in early May, the days begin to get longer and stay that way up until early September. So, while the rest of the states might be celebrating the seasons changing from winter to summer, Alaska has even more to celebrate – the beginning of days filled with 18 hours of sunlight while they honor and remember those who gave their lives for freedom for all.
Celebrating Alaska Style via Mt. McKinley
While parades and barbeques are how some celebrate Memorial Day, for others this simply would not suffice. Climbing Mt. McKinley to honor the fallen soldiers who no longer could, was a better way of taking a stand. A group of military veteran climbers and disabled veterans were on a mission – a mission to take a stand on Mt. McKinley.
The intention was to create a statement that honors those who sacrificed and served in a way that was memorable indeed.
For those disabled and honorable veterans who desired to climb on Memorial Day, perhaps there was more of a statement for everyone – a life lesson of sorts – no matter how hard or high the mountain in front of you appears, it is more about facing the challenge daily and overcoming them as well – one step at a time.
The team of military veterans had hopes of carrying flags with the names of fallen veterans on them to the summit of Mt. McKinley. While Mt. McKinley had other plans with nature-related conditions, the tenacity and determination shown by these veterans is as awe-inspiring as the mountain itself.
Car Shows – Another Great Way to Honor Veterans
The Anchorage Corvette Association honored veterans the best way that they know how – by having a car show. While this is perhaps one of the biggest events among all others this club takes on, there is special meaning attached to it. All of the money raised via the car show along with their silent auction goes to support worthy causes such as the Armed Forces YMCA and the Last Frontier Honor Flight Group.
A flag ceremony, the playing of taps, along with a moment in silence set the tone for what the car show is really all about. Besides honoring the Chevrolet Corvette, this club also takes the time to honor our veterans.
Fort Richardson National Cemetery and Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery
Getting to the heart of matters, no Memorial Day Celebration would be complete without services to honor those who have passed. Fort Richardson National Cemetery hosted a memorial service along with a 21-gun salute and the placing of wreaths while Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery was the location for the posting of the flag along with memorial speeches followed by some fun in the form of a pig roast and family fun to celebrate freedom.
When it came to family fun time and memorial services, Alaska celebrated much the same way as many other states; however, having disabled veterans attempt to climb Mt. McKinley with flags that honored the names of fallen soldiers goes above and beyond the call of duty any day.
