There weren't a lot of people, perhaps 150, but the ceremony was touching, dignified. Members of the association read aloud the names of all Alaskans or Alaska-based military personnel killed in our wars since September 11th, 2001. Afterward, I played Taps, to conclude the formal part of the event.
Below, some of the people gathered around, before the ceremony. In the foreground, Frontiersman reporter Greg Johnson questions Rep. Carl Gatto (R - ALEC and Society of Americans for National Existence). Johnson also interviewed me and several others attending. I spent a lot of time talking with Mary Kvalheim, a longtime friend, who runs Sen. Begich's Valley office, and with MSB Planning Commission member, Pat Johnson, who is running for the Borough Assembly.
Carl came up to me, commenting that I was the best-dressed person there (I thought Mary was). I refused to shake Carl's hand and dressed him down at length about how much time and money he wastes in Juneau with hateful, stupid legislation. He indicated that I'm probably the only person in the world who thinks that way about him.
Looking at the people assembled to honor the deceased Veterans from another angle:
My bugle, at home, with the medallion Chris Creech from the Veterans group gave me afterward:
3 comments:
Please assure Gatto that you are not alone in feeling
THAT way, or worse, about him.
I did. A friend who witnessed the exchange thought I was a bit too kind.
When you talk to Carl Gatto again, please assure him that there is at least one more person (me) who agrees with you. He's a giant waste of space, as far as I'm concerned.
Blue_in_AK
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