Annual banquet honors military service members

Lisa Cassino Putnam emcee’d the event, and said that it highlighted the pride, gratitude and respect for the military that Fairbanks has.

A Joint Honor Guard from Fort Wainwright and Eielson AFB posted the colors.

On the menu was salad, rolls, roasted London broil, baked chicken, mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts and bite size cakes.

The banquet drew national, local and state dignitaries, including U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, Sen. Scott Kawasaki, Representative Will Stapp, Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Grier Hopkins and North Pole Mayor Larry Terch III. Military dignitaries included Gen. Kevin Schneider, Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham, Brig. Gen. Thomas Burke, Col. Jason Cole, Col. Paul Townsend and Col. Michael Griesbaum.

Murkowski said that military servicemembers make not only the country stronger, but the golden heart community a better place. “Tonight is really a celebration of the men and women who serve us,” she said.

Sullivan highlighted what he called the four pillars of military might that are embedded in the Interior: “a hub of air combat power, a cornerstone of U.S. missile defense, the platform for some of the military’s best expeditionary forces, and strong community support.”

The event started as small dinners hosted by Jim and Rosemary Messer for their friends in the military. It grew to an annual event that honors military service members from Fort Wainwright, Eielson AFB, Fort Greely and Clear Space Force Station.

The Messer Award, which recognizes a civilian who goes above and beyond to promote community-military relations, went to Stapp, who represents east Fairbanks and Fort Wainwright in the Alaska House of Representatives.

Townsend, who presented the award to Stapp, highlighted legislation sponsored by Stapp honoring Vietnam war veterans, securing free permanent fishing IDs for disabled veterans, hunting and trapping and establishing Veterans Poppy Day and the Alaska Military Affairs Commission.

“Beyond his leg work, he has become known as one of the military community’s most passionate advocates. His authentic approach and straightforward communication style has set him apart from traditional politicians,” Townsend said.

“Of all the communities that I’ve lived in, I’m proud to call Fairbanks my home,” Stapp said. “It’s just an honor and privilege to be able to serve the community and be able to represent Fort Wainwright.”

Schneider, commander of the Pacific Air Forces and air component commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, reminded participants of the strategic importance of the military in Alaska to project power and respond to challenges across the Pacific.

Schneider addressed some of the threats from Russia, China and North Korea.

“What happens around the air space and the waters of Alaska, what happens off the west coast of the United States, in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, has a direct impact on the safety, security and prosperity of the United States,” Schneider said.

While Schneider painted a grim picture, he said that he is confident in the in capabilities of the U.S. military to provide peace and security.

The U.S. enjoys three asymmetric advantages — military personnel, joint forces and our allies — that other countries envy, Schneider said.

Schneider relayed his confidence in the forces in Alaska.

“I do go to sleep confident and assured because of this. We have fantastic commanders, we have fantastic people who are out there doing the job each day,” he said.

“The future of the United States military and the nation will always be bright because of men and women who serve and the communities who support them here in Alaska,” Schneider concluded.

The chamber honored 1st Lt. Joshua Babb, Sgt. 1st Class Michael Shaffstall, Staff Sgt. Brendyl Smith, Sgt. Adam Younk, Sgt. Aiyanna Cacas, 1st Lt. Sergio Matos, Sgt, Alex Kaska, Master Sgt. Stephen Kraus, Tech. Sgt. Justice Lunceford, Airman 1st Class Zachary Hayes, Master Sgt. Kenneth Tussey, Tech. Sgt. Kathryn Keyser, Staff Sgt. Matthew Szalay, Sarah Piper and Wesley Gladman.

Shaffstall was honored for saving the life of a man who had a seizure at Aurora Energy on Dec. 31, 2024. It turns out the man he saved was Friends of the U.S. Army Chapter President James Morton, who read the Army honorees on Friday.