The Family

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Winter Carnival

Salute to the Military Dinner

The Salute to the Military promotes awareness of military performance and service through the combined efforts of the Armed Services YMCA of Alaska and the Anchorage community. This sold-out banquet event hosted more than 600 guests as 12 of Alaska’s Service People of the Year were recognized for outstanding achievements.The Salute to the Military is only one example of the programs and events offered through the Armed Services YMCA which has provided support services to military service members and their families for nearly 70 years, particularly focused on junior-enlisted men and women – the individuals on the front lines defending our nation and their families.I am so proud to be a board member for this incredible organization.Under the direction of the ASYMCA, the event has grown to include all branches of the Armed Services

Dollars for Donuts

This morning I was out bright and early to meet Marcus and April from 98.9 Magik fm to raise money for the families of deployed Troops. With the considerable contribution from our Holiday Stores we were able to give every person who donated money to Friends of the Guard and Reserve a dozen donuts. I was amazed at the local turn out and in talking with the people who came in to donate was in awe at the amount of compassion this community has towards its military members and their families. They truly believe "Every Soldier is someone's neighbor"

Support our Troops!

I once heard a Soldier say “ I am not scared of dying I am scared of what it will do to my friends and family.” I am the proud wife of a Soldier is recently back from his third combat tour. I want to share with you what it is like to be the wife of a deployed Soldier. To explain to you why I cry when I hear the National Anthem. Or why I swell with pride and tears when I say the Pledge of Allegiance. Or why, when I watch the news, I cry for every single fallen Soldier as if they were my very own Soldier. We are a huge modern family, spread out over the states and now countries. We are not bound by blood; we are bound by love. On April 16, 2002, we received a phone call from New York – one of our family members had died the day before. Briann Craig , 27 years old, died as a result of an explosion during a clearing operation, confiscating large caliber rockets from former Taliban dump sites in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Also killed were Staff Sergeant Justin Galewski, Sergeant Jamie Maugen and Sergeant First Class Daniel Romero. These Soldiers went out every day, found the old bombs and rockets and took them to a safe place to detonate them so they would not explode and hurt others. In May of 2002, my husband and I flew to Washington, D.C., for Memorial Day. Walking into Arlington National Cemetery, I can not begin to describe the flood of emotion that welled through my body. Quietly we stood at section 60, site 7756, looking down at the four names on the markers. Brian, Jamie, Daniel and Justin. All four men were buried on one site. The explosion was too large to distinguish between the bodies. Tomorrow when you wake up and go throughout your day, you may forget me. You may forget some of what I have said today. What I hope and pray is that you will not forget Staff Sergeant Brian Craig. I hope that you tell his story often and with such emotion that you feel as if you too lost a family member in that explosion on April 15, 2002. Because then, I will know that I brought you into my world. These Soldiers are fighting for you, for me, and for the lives of every single family in the United States of America. And while they fight, their families are here fighting for them – staying strong so they are able to focus on their job. We can not all serve, but we can all support. Thank you for the support you’ve given the military and our families. God Bless America, God Bless you all, and God Bless our Troops and their Families.

Dare to Care Gala

Dare to Care was a kitchen born non profit group literally formed in the kitchen of former 1st runner up Mrs. Alaska , Bettsie Wild. Her daughter would come home daily and ask her mother to make lunches for the kids at school who did not come to school with food. After a year of doing that the program grew beyond the ability of her home and she started working with community leaders to form Dare to care. Last Year Dare to Care fed over 500 children lunch on a regular basis and next year they are looking at even more. Tonight's Gala was an amazing recognition to how much devotion Bettsie has to this program .I was honored to be attending and to have helped Bettsie fund raise this year for her program. I can not wait to see where the next year takes us.

Andersons Brides Spring Fashion Show

Miss Fur Rondy Pageant

Tonight was so fun. Mrs. Anchorage, Devona Cain and I attended the first Miss Fur Rondy Pageant in 16 years!At the end of a fabulous evening Jazmine Williams was crowned our new Miss Fur Rondy. The event was attended by a large crowd including many visiting royalties.

Super Bowl Commercial

Today with 500 of my closest friends we filmed a pre Super Bowl commercial with Gov. Sarah Palin. It turned out to be a great turn out and we spent an amazing day talking and meeting with all the Troops and their families.

First Book gift wrapping event

Today I worked on one of my favorite projects. First Book is a non profit group that provides books to children who do not have the ability to have their very own books. This incredible organization works with different local groups to help distribute these free books to children to make sure each child has a book of their own. Along with being on the board for First Book this group also helps my program hearts to home , in which a Troop who is getting ready to deploy can read to their child on dvd and we will give that child the disk and book so they can feel connected while their parent is gone. Obviously this group is near and dear to my heart and today with the support of Borders Books we helped wrapped books for donations to this very worthy cause.

Non Commisioned Officers Ball

There is no argument that the Non Commissioned Officers are the back bone of the military. For over 230 years these men and women have served our country and provided us the comforts we enjoy by living in the United States.It is during this ball once a year these brave men and women are honored for standing tall, coming to work everyday and silently supporting us and the freedoms we have.This years ball was in honor of not only all NCOs but as a prelude to the upcoming deployment of the 207th Aviation Bn. To make sure they know that while away we will hold them dear to our hearts and look forward to their safe return.It is a moment where the families are also celebrated for being so strong and tenacious. Standing without waiver beside their Troop. To recognize and honor those who support from behind the scene.The Command SGT Major made sure to let the Troops and Families know how much they were appreciated and how one can not survive the current Globe War on Terrorism without the other.Being surrounded by all of the Soldiers and their Families makes me thankful every day for what opportunities I am given .We will never forget.

EVA Gala Ball

Alaska has the highest rate per capita of domestic violence in the entire United States. Most victims are women who find themselves in the untenable position of choosing between a financially secure yet abusive relationship and freedom from abuse at the cost of loss of financial support.
According to the statistics provided by the Anchorage Police Department, victims attempt to leave their abusers seven times on average before making a permanent separation. I was honored tonight to attend the annual EVA Gala . All proceeds from this dinner and silent auction, which included numerous beautiful Christmas Trees decorated and donated from local community members all go to the EVA foundation.The EVA Foundation wants to make it easier for abuse victims to start independent lives by providing esteem building goods and services to help them find jobs, seek normal relationships or just reenter society.