Anchorage Military & Veterans Commission Meeting – September 14, 2026

The Anchorage Military & Veterans Commission met on September 14, 2026. No written agenda or minutes were available; this summary is based on the raw transcript. The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call, which established a quorum. The commission approved the previous minutes and the agenda by unanimous consent, heard guest introductions and a funding proposal, discussed repairs and signage for the 11th Air Force Memorial, and reviewed upcoming veterans events.

Consent Calendar

• Previous meeting minutes: approved by unanimous consent after no corrections were offered.
• Meeting agenda: approved by unanimous consent; the chair noted additions for a 9/11-related item and a stand down flyer. No written agenda was provided for verification.

Guest Introductions and Applicant Remarks

• Jason Simmons, a licensed clinical social worker embedded with an active-duty civil engineer squadron, introduced himself. He applied to join the commission, served on active duty as a Marine from 1999 to 2007, and said he wanted to get plugged into the community. The chair said staff would check on his application with Marie.
• Sam Garcia attended as note taker; the chair noted his work with local agencies on veterans, active-duty, substance treatment, and mental health programs.
• Jason Porter joined remotely to listen. Jeffrey Slackboo and Angela La Flamme from Military and Veterans Affairs attended as advisory representatives.

Guest Presentation: Alaska National Guard Officers Association Grant

• Laurel Foster, a member of the Alaska Air National Guard and the Alaska National Guard Officers Association, explained that the association received a $17,000 grant from the Department of Military and Veteran Affairs for an Alaska Territorial Guard memorial. The additional funding source fell through, so the association can no longer use the money for its original purpose and is looking for another project.
• She said the association’s board would vote at its October meeting, that the 11th Air Force Memorial Reconstruction could be proposed, and that the idea would compete with other proposals. She asked the commission for its thoughts and invited additional ideas; board meetings are held online via Google Meets.

Discussion: 11th Air Force Memorial Repairs and Funding

• Committee members reported that Merrill Field’s airport manager had completed a major cleanup and had fixed and updated the memorial’s lights and electrical work. Remaining needs include pavement repair, fixing concrete and ground settling issues, and completing in-ground lighting around the monument and roundabout.
• The commission discussed preparing a proposal and cost estimates for the $17,000 grant opportunity, focusing on safety items: repairing pavers between the circle and the monument, adding skirting around the monument base, filling cracks, and preventing people from climbing on the monument. Members agreed to seek pricing and assessments from the airport manager, but planned to wait until about October 1 because he was handling an unrelated incident.
• Members noted the monument has cracked and is in two pieces; previous assessments reportedly concluded it is stable, but weather, ground settling, the old dump site, and the 7.1 earthquake were cited as possible causes. A grand reopening with Merrill Field was discussed for next year, possibly around August or September and potentially combined with a 9/11 or Air Force birthday observance.

Signage Letter to the Mayor

• The commission reviewed a revised letter to the mayor requesting signage so the public can find the 11th Air Force Memorial. A member corrected a spelling error and added bolded 'action' language regarding public awareness.
• Members approved the revised letter with the added action language for signature by two commission members and transmittal to the mayor. During discussion, members noted that even a wing commander and a senator had been unaware of the memorial.

Upcoming Events and Community Partner Updates

• Fall Fest: listed as Saturday, Sept. 13, 1–4 p.m. at the Army National Guard armory, with hay rides, a maze/games for kids, and a pumpkin trebuchet. The listed date conflicts with the Sept. 14 meeting date and should be verified.
• VA Stand Down: scheduled for Sept. 19 at the airport area for veterans to access resources, donations, clothing, vouchers, and programs.
• American Legion Post 29: meeting on Sept. 16 at 7 p.m.; Olivia volunteered to attend and share information about the memorial.
• Post 1 mental health summit: Sept. 16, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with a program from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• A Sept. 18 observance was noted in the transcript as 'pollama day' honoring 40 Central Reserve Police Force personnel who lost their lives serving in 'Indiana and India'; the wording appears garbled and should be verified. National POW/MIA Recognition Day was also noted around the same period.
• Sam Garcia, now with Luna Health Group, described the Anchorage Recovery Center campus on the east side (between Boniface and Bragg). It will include detox, residential, outpatient services, a recovery community center, and a mobile crisis team. The campus currently has 32 beds, expected to grow to about 72 soon and nearly 200 by the end of winter, serving civilians, veterans, and active-duty members.
• Alaska Veterans Museum: annual dinner and auction announced for Oct. 11; tickets are $50 for one person or $90 for a couple and include yearly membership. The museum’s oral history program and planned schoolchildren sound bites were also mentioned.

Key Outcomes

• Previous minutes and the agenda were approved by unanimous consent.
• The commission agreed to develop a funding proposal, scope of work, and cost estimates for the Alaska National Guard Officers Association board’s October vote.
• The revised signage letter with action language was approved for signature and delivery to the mayor.
• Olivia volunteered to represent the commission at American Legion Post 29 on Sept. 16.
• The next meeting was set for Oct. 6; the meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent after a motion and second.