Friday, March 1, 2013, Juneau, Alaska – The Joint Alaska State Legislative Veterans’ Caucus today thanked Veterans’ Caucus Vice Chair Bob Herron, D-Bethel, for working with the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities to divert a transportation project that would have impacted the Alaska Territorial Memorial Park and Veterans’ Cemetery in Bethel.

The park in question was dedicated July 2012 honoring those who served in the 6,400-member Alaska Territorial Guard during World War II. The park includes a statue of a territorial guardsman that faces west scanning the horizon.

Under the department’s airport master plan for the Bethel Airport, a portion of the airport road and apron would have encroached into the park and cemetery, requiring the park and possible grave sites of fallen soldiers to be moved.

“Rep. Herron diligently worked hard to honor Alaska’s veterans and their families by protecting the fallen soldiers’ final place of rest,” Veterans’ Caucus Co-Chair Steve Thompson, R-Fairbanks, said. “The department and Rep. Herron should be commended for their efforts to resolve this issue promptly.”

“Protecting the park and cemetery, that honor so many people from this area, is a top priority for me,” Herron said. “I would like to thank the Veterans’ Caucus for standing up with me on this issue and also the department for working closely with me and members of the community to make sure this iconic memorial was preserved. I am happy to announce that the road will be diverted away from the memorial park and cemetery.”

“I would like to thank Rep. Herron for his vigilance and dedication on this matter,” Veterans Caucus Co-Chair Senator Charlie Huggins, R-Wasilla, said. “I’d also like to commend the department for working with the City of Bethel to find a solution.”