49th Star . . .

Fifty years can seem like a long time to some . . .

While for others it might seem like only yesterday.

Alaska is in the middle of our statehood celebrations with events and reenactments all over. Tonight there is a joint military family appreciation/50 years of statehood concert featuring Wynona Judd out at Elmendorf Air Force Base that is a free concert with a live broadcast on KTUU Channel 2. Towards the end Wynona brought out her mama, Naomi to sing a few songs and also had several families come onstage for a teleconference with their family members who are combat stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Tonight’s concert will finish off with the lighting of a bonfire to reenact the ‘statehood bonfire’ fifty years ago on the park strip downtown.

Tomorrow starts the Arctic Thunder Air Show with many static exhibits and live flight demonstrations by both military and civilian pilots as well as parachute drops by our own Alaskan Arctic Warriors based at Fort Richardson.

Being a history buff has been fun reading old newspaper articles or seeing the pictures from those times. I come away with the realization of just how hard it was in those early days of exploring this vast state. Times were hard . . . like now . . . but in a different way. Food and warmth were in short supply and the people who came here learned much from the native culture.

As we embrace for a weekend of celebration and all of the activities around Anchorage we can only hope for clear skies and warm temperatures.

Happy Birthday Alaska . . . your star is shining brightly.

Ice

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