Anchorage Military & Veterans Affairs Commission Meeting Summary – October 13, 2026

The Anchorage Military & Veterans Affairs Commission met on October 13, 2026, with a quorum present. Nolan Clouda, policy director in the mayor's office, staffed the meeting in place of Laurel, who is on leave. The commission approved prior minutes and the agenda by unanimous consent, discussed the 11th Air Force Memorial and official record-keeping, and decided not to host a separate Veterans Day ceremony. Note: The supplied meeting date is October 13, 2026, but the transcript references a next meeting on October 5 and several September events, creating a date discrepancy.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes from the prior meeting were approved by unanimous consent.
• The agenda was approved by unanimous consent, with additions for new business.

Committee Reports: 11th Air Force Memorial

• The commission now has a funding code, allowing donations to be deposited with the Municipality of Anchorage.
• A check from American Legion Post 29 issued over a year ago is now invalid and needs to be reissued; Jason Porter was not present, and a follow-up is pending.
• Earl Malpas, Merrill Field director, reported that community volunteers have helped maintain the memorial, but it has no current lease or permit and the airport has no budget line item for it. He offered to help develop a prioritized task list and obtain cost estimates for repairs.
• Members discussed creating brochures for the memorial and placing them at the Log Cabin visitor center.
• Sign placement status was discussed; Kristen Langley, municipal traffic safety manager, was identified as the contact. Some signs have been seen near Lake Otis, DeBarr, and the Glenn Highway, and a status check was requested.

Old Business

• The commission discussed AMC 1.25.1015(B) and whether written minutes or video recordings are the official record. Members noted videos have not been posted consistently and that written minutes are always available.
• A motion to designate the written minutes as the official recognition of commission meetings was made, seconded, and passed unanimously.
• Name tags and commission pins remain under review; Laurel had been checking whether the municipality can provide them at no cost, and members agreed pins are still desired.

New Business

• Veterans Day: Members discussed whether to hold a ceremony at the 11th Air Force Memorial. Several members preferred not to compete with the established ceremony on base, which usually draws around 150 people and is warmer. The commission agreed not to sponsor a separate event, though individual members may support Earl Malpas if the airport holds something.
• The Alaska Veterans Museum will be open free on Veterans Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Upcoming events mentioned included: JBER's Oktoberfest on September 25 at the Warrior Zone; a USS Ted Stevens christening on October 3 in Whittier; a Craig Robinson comedy night on September 17; DFW 1685's Oktoberfest on October 9; the Alaska Veterans Museum annual meeting and auction on October 10, with tickets at $55 for singles and $100 for couples; and the Last Frontier Honor Flight homecoming on October 10.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimous votes approving the minutes and the agenda.
• Unanimous vote designating written minutes as the official record for the Military and Veterans Affairs Commission.
• Decision not to hold a commission-organized Veterans Day event at the 11th Air Force Memorial.
• Follow-ups directed: reissue the American Legion Post 29 check, confirm memorial sign installation status, continue pursuing name tags and pins, and develop a priority/cost list for memorial repairs.