Hundreds Gather at Fort Richardson Cemetery to Honor Veterans

With more than 77,000 veterans living in the Last Frontier, Memorial Day is an extra special day for Alaskans.

Tools

By Heather VacLav

Story Created: May 30, 2011 at 7:54 PM AKDT

Story Updated: May 30, 2011 at 7:54 PM AKDT

 There are more than 77,000 veterans living in the Last Frontier, so it is no surprise that Memorial Day is an extra special day for Alaskans.

 
It couldn't have been a more beautiful day at the Fort Richardson National Cemetery.
 
The sun shined brightly and taps reverberated through the cemetery as people paused to remember fallen Alaskan veterans. 
 
While hundreds listened to the ceremony, others gathered with their families finding their loved ones at the graves.
 
“But it’s more of the love in which we have for those who have survived to pass the tradition on...because it’s a wonderful thing to be able to look out for those who have gone away and have done their job on this earth,” said Benjamin Blunt, son-in-law of fallen veteran.
     
One Alaskan family from New Orleans spent their day celebrating the life of a Korean War veteran and his sister.
 
“We miss him a lot. We talk about him every day, but we miss him,” said a man who called himself “Papa.”
 
For the past three years, four generations from this family from ages two to 92 come to the Fort Richardson National Cemetery on Memorial Day.
 
“I got a whole family that's surrounding me, that look after me and taking care of me,” said Papa.
 

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KTVA CBS 11 | Anchorage, Alaska News and Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.