[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 84 (Monday, May 20, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S2959]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  NATIONAL MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH

  Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, the month of May is nationally 
designated Military Appreciation Month, so named because, in the month 
of May, we also observe Memorial Day, Military Spouse Appreciation Day, 
and Armed Forces Day. Last week, my friend from the State of Oklahoma, 
Mr. Inhofe, the distinguished chairman of the Senate Armed Services 
Committee, organized a floor event around National Military 
Appreciation Month. I would like to take a moment to lend my voice to 
this significant commemoration.
  In the State of Alaska we like to think of military appreciation 
month as every month, military appreciation day as every day. Alaska is 
proud to host more than 19,000 Active-Duty servicemembers, more than 
4,600 members of the Reserve Component, and about 5,000 appropriated 
funds civilians across all of the services. That number will grow 
significantly as the Air Force begins the beddown of the F-35A Joint 
Strike Fighter, at Eielson Air Force Base, its first F-35 operating 
base in the Pacific Area of Responsibility.
  At first blush, Alaska is a difficult place to serve. It is dark in 
the winter, light all night in the summer, prone to temperature 
extremes, and geographically distant from family. Some military 
families who receive orders to Alaska are apprehensive at first, but 
when they speak with other military families that have served in 
Alaska, they come to understand that Alaskans treat our military 
families like no other people, and the opportunity to live in Alaska, 
while serving, is a once in a lifetime wonderful experience.
  I could offer many examples of the ways in which Alaskans make life 
wonderful for those who serve here. The one that is freshest is my mind 
is the annual Military Appreciation Banquet in Fairbanks. It is one of 
two that Alaskans put on each year. The Fairbanks banquet tends to 
occur in May; the other major banquet is Salute to the Military in 
Anchorage each February. Both attract senior military leaders as 
keynote speakers. During each, the services honor outstanding members 
from within their ranks and thank the community for its extraordinary 
support.
  I would like to speak to the history of the Fairbanks banquet for a 
moment. It began 51 years ago--1968 to be exact--when Jim and Rosemary 
Messer started small dinner in the home parties for friends in the 
military; 1968 was a pretty controversial year in the Nation's history 
with the country torn over our participation in the Vietnam conflict, 
but the Messers were determined to show those who came from around the 
country to serve in Alaska some love and home-cooking.
  The idea quickly outgrew the confines of the Messer home, and the 
Fairbanks Military Appreciation Banquet is its successor. The banquet 
is held in the Carlson Center, which is the convention center for 
Fairbanks. Capacity is about 600 people, and the banquet sells out 
every year. Following in the Messer legacy, each community member buys 
two tickets, one for themselves and another for a servicemember to host 
at their table.
  In addition to recognizing exemplary servicemembers, the Fairbanks 
community recognizes one local individual each year who has done the 
most to promote civilian-military relations with an award. That award 
is named the Messer Award, in honor of the couple that inspired the 
annual banquet.
  This year, the keynote speaker was VADM Michael J. Dumont, U.S. Navy, 
Deputy Commander of U.S. Northern Command. I am told he was a big hit. 
Last year, for the 50th anniversary, we had Gen. Joseph Lengyel, U.S. 
Air Force, Chief of the National Guard Bureau. We are grateful that our 
senior leaders travel a great distance to celebrate the military 
presence in Alaska's Interior, and I know that the participants are as 
well.
  This is an example of what we view as the golden contract between the 
community and the military. Each year, Alaskans go out of their way in 
big ways and small ones to make life for our servicemembers and their 
families extremely comfortable. Each year, in the presence of a 
distinguished senior leader, we break bread together to renew these 
bonds.
  I am proud of those who serve in Alaska and the Alaskans who serve 
them, and I am proud that we observe military appreciation month every 
month of the year.

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