Palin attends Fort Wainwright brigade ceremony
Published Thursday, October 8, 2009
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Stumble It!FAIRBANKS, Alaska - Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has made a rare public appearance since leaving office.
Anchorage television station KTUU reports Palin attended a ceremony in Fairbanks on Thursday to welcome home the 1st Stryker Brigade.
Palin's son, Track, is a member of the brigade, which recently returned from a yearlong deployment to Iraq.
Also at the ceremony was Gov. Sean Parnell, who succeeded Palin upon her resignation July 26. Since quitting, Palin has been writing her memoirs. The former Republican vice presidential candidate's book, title "Going Rogue," will be released Nov. 17.
A memorial unveiled Wednesday at Fort Wainwright bears the names of 12 soldiers who died in the yearlong deployment. Seven were stationed at Fort Wainwright and five were attached to the brigade.
Community Discussion
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SO WHAT! You may leave AGAIN now!
I thought I smelled something rotten
Let a mother welcome home her son. Thank you for your service, Track.
Hilda & J.A.: Genuinely low-class comments. Not that I expected anything different, though.
A mother welcoming her son should have been the only issue at hand. I'm sure she made sure many knew she would be there. She turns every event into a media circus just to keep her herself known....otherwise, everyone WILL forget.
what can I say I'm just an old rogue
Was it really her, or just a hologram?
was she wearing Levi's or carharrts?
Welcome back, Strykers! I was at the ceremony, and it was a beautiful tribute, especially to those soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice.
While Sarah Palin was recognized in the welcome remarks, there was no fanfare for her. She was there to welcome home her son and his fellow soldiers. Some people did stop her and ask to have their photos taken with her, and she was very gracious and accomodating.
Her son just returned from a year at war, where he was defending the freedoms we take for granted. One of these freedoms is the freedom of speech that many of you use in this anonymous forum in order to make such ugly comments about his mother.
Don't pretend, on one hand, to support the troops, while on the other hand, running down their families. They deserve far better than that.
Hilda, Justasking,
Your vile loathing of Sarah Palin is,... at this point when you should have put it behind you long ago, ... pitiful and amusing.
Get a life.
Frankly, this shouldn't be news anymore. A mother coming to greet her son from war is where it's at. She's not our governor anymore. Let it rest. Why didn't private so and so's mother get recognized? It's really not news anymore...
BTW Welcome Home Troops!!!!
Her "honored" presence only took from the respect and honor that should've been given 100% to the families of the fallen soldiers. The fact that she sat next to them and received flowers like them and was addressed in every speech like them was not okay with me.
Darknight
I agree! Every other Mother, Father, spouse or other family member is just as important in welcoming the returning Strykers.
Actually I am not so much against Palin as I am sick of seeing her name in the DNM for issues that do not set her apart from every other citizen.
I was at today's event to remember our fallen Soldier and welcome my husband and all the other's home! No one knew Sarah was going to be there and she was classy as ever. She is a true hero for our Country by letting her son serve in the Military. Her son saw true combat... can't say that for Biden's "lawyer" son.
Tankerwife-
She is not a hero. The soldiers are hero's, Superman is a hero, S. Palin is not a hero.
justmyopinion-
You are right that soldiers are heroes for their acts of bravery and willingness to serve. Their families are heroes too for their willingness to sacrifice many of the comforts you take for granted, such as knowing your loved ones are safe and sound. Even if you disagree with their politics or career choices, all military families (to include the Palins) deserve some respect.
...as does Superman.
I was at the redeployment ceremony today and Sarah Palins presence didn't detract from the reason we were there. Our fallen soldiers were honored, our returning soldiers were thanked, along with the families. Everyone there was honored. The military is very big on something called "respect" and out of "respect" for the position that she held, her name was mentioned. Briefly...very briefly. And she was mentioned and given a rose way after any other person received theirs. If Col Thompson chose to mention her, that was his option. And by the way, she was considered the senior mother of the brigade. She is a mother of one of the soldier being thanked, I am a wife of one of those soldiers as well, and I welcomed her presence. As I would any other wife, mother, father or child.
Much respect!
I wish people would stop complaining about the smallest things in life. Sarah served this Country and so did her Son. Give the woman a break... and let her celebrate her son's return. Plus she did send the Soldier's off.
You know she had every right to be there as a family member of a returning soldier...
Thank you ALL for your service.
tankerwife....LETTING her son fight? Pretty sure he's a big boy and can make his own decisions without mommys approval.
I think those of you saying to leave her alone are missing the point...its great she was there to welcome her son back but it was uncalled for to point her out during the ceremony. Otherwise EVERY other mother in attendance should have been recognized. But because she failed to let anyone know to NOT give her the spotlight, people will see this as just another media hype that she just loves!
oh and tankerwife you say she served her country...yeah but she QUIT her job unlike the soldiers who can't just up and quit to move on to 'bigger and better things'.
If you weren't there, then you don't know... so get on with your life and move on. GEEZ.
Think about the country that these solders left one year ago and how it differs from the one that they came back to. Not only do we owe them thanks but we also owe them an apology. At least I can say that I tried to do what was right and I tried to speak out against collectivism. Boys, you went to Iraq for a year to help that country, and you did. Now that you are back you need to help us help this country.
Good for her!
Welcome back Strykers!
Go back to your Undisclosed Location, Sarah.
How's that dividend working out for you, roadtrip? Collectivism indeed! LOL!
Is she going to get Playgirl?
**shudder**
OP, if you don't know what a dividend is then you should Google it. But I am willing to bet that you are probably familiar with the actual concept of a "dividend".
And OP, look what I can do,
http://z.about.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/...
I like dogs.
http://z.about.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/...
http://z.about.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/...
Barry looks to be having fun.
This was absolutely not about Sarah Palin. This was totally about the Soldiers and the Soldiers only. The news organizations were the ones making a big deal over it. Anything that has her or her name in it (and I certainly don't know why that is), is newsworthy. For the TROOPS, yes, Palin, nah!
Huh, roadie... If the state's resources are to be developed to the maximum benefit of Alaskans and we tax the oil companies to accomplish this, why aren't we also receiving taxes from the mining and fishing folks into the Permanent Fund?
You guys keep spinning socialist welfare however you want. Just because it's ensconced in the state Constitution doesn't mean it isn't socialism.
You didn't take it, did you??
Good pix though, roadie! :)
Good for Sarah and her family.
Pat
This is the News Miner trying to make something out of nothing again with their news stories. She came with her husband to welcome home her son just like many other parents who traveled here for their own. Seriously.
Can we get another article on the ex-gay guy now?
I can imagine the outrage if Palin hadn't been there.
With the Palin hate cult, at this point there is no act not worthy of their criticism. It's not even political, it's personal.
Have another bon bon, ladies.
Like I said, use the term "dividend" correctly or find someone else to BS. Words have meanings and ignoring the meanings does not alter reality or win arguments. Dividends are returns on investments, taxes are payments made to provide for govt services, like military force.
Did you provide the original money for those investments? Where did that money come from, roadie? If it didn't come from your own had work you have no right to accept 'dividends' from some other entity's wealth.
I knew I felt a little extra rougeish today!
Secondly, my family is on its fifth generation in Alaska. How 'bout yours?
Clearly, my family has contributed far more to Alaska than a family who moved here two years ago, or 10 years ago, or even 50 years ago. Why is it that all Alaskans receive the dividend equally regardless of effort or longevity? Socialism. Pure and simple.
And are you willing to advocate for taxing the miners and fishers since we are entitled to the maximum benefit of the resources? I know a few crusty old miners who wouldn't be too into that...
Dipper: Here's the thing. No matter what Palin does, half the posters here will immediately condemn it as one more act of evil, and the other half will hail it as further proof of her divinity.
That's the problem with Palin. There's no in between. She brings out the stupid in everyone.
What about those of us who simply find her amusing, TAC?
Welcome home love. I'm glad your back. I'm glad all of you are back. I cried many tears over the soldiers we lost and their famlies. I stood by for a year just praying for your safe return. God has blessed us for sure.
Pop quiz here for all who was not present for the brigade ceremony.
How many other politicians was also present besides Gov. Sean Parnell & Miss Sarah?
Who was the other politicians, if any others, was also present besides Gov. Sean Parnell & Miss Sarah?
What political parties was represented today also?
>
Bet you don't know. The DMN didn't say it in the article.
Please, No hints by those who was present today.
Let's see what, and who, if any answers?
The 12 who didn't return are a few of many who must never be forgotten.
On a separate note,...Sarah, thank you for the sacrifice that you and your family have made for this country. We, the silent conservatives have awakened and never again will we sit by and let America haters get the upper hand.
There were very few people from the "public" who attended this event, aside for the distinguished guests like Palin and our local mayors. I wish everyone could have been able to see this ceremony, it truly made me proud to be an American and proud to be in a military community. I'm still speechless and can feel the dried tears on my cheek from attending this ceremony.
GOVERNOR Palin was serving as Governor for the majority of this deployment. MRS. Palin served as a Brigade mother and was active in supporting soldiers and families in the brigade and is why she had a seat next to the Brigade Commander's spouse. Additionally, her son is serving in this brigade. She had every right to be there and the recognition she recieved was because of her service as Governor and her brigade support, not for being Sarah Palin.
Thank you to ALL of our returning soldiers, their families and the rear detachment who served to support this brigade. I LOVE the welcome home signs that are all over town. These families, including the Palin's, who have supported these soldiers deserve our respect.
Thank you for letting me be one of the very few members of the general public to attend this ceremony.
She has little respect left from this state, I hope the flowers had thorns!
OP, you speak in cleshays and I am running out of stupid pictures after only a week.
http://z.about.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/...
Nice little rant but you still fail to grasp the concept of an investment or a dividend. If someone inherits some farm land and then gets a check for rent that is the same concept as the PFD. The people own the resource and that resource was used to establish a mutual fund style account that produces revenue. That revenue gets distributed to Alaskans. In a socialist society the military's purpose is to make the people serve the will of the central commanders. In a free, or capitalist, society the military's job is to provide a safe and secure environment for the people to live and also to protect our right to own property. The average American has no idea exactly how much they depend on the military.
I just don't get it. With all the bad news all around us relating to the economy, unemployment here in Alaska, and everything else, Palin attending a ceremony that includes her son (a soldier) is not a bad thing, regardless of how any one of us feels about it. I was there and can attest to the fact that the soldiers at the ceremony were happy to have Palin as a guest.
Hey Strykers, welcome home and thanks for serving! You're all hero's in my book!
Sarah and all the rest of the mom's, dad's and families - thanks for raising sons and daughters that have the intestinal fortitude to stand up and fight for those of us back home who are selfish, condescending, ignorant, disrespectful, and hypocritical.
Your sacrifices, and the sacrifices of those that have gone before you, give us the freedom to get lost and self-absorbed in the lint patterns staring back at us from our many long days of navel-gazing. One day we might actually break free and look up from the mystical, mesmerizing lint and suddenly realize it's not actually just about "me! me! me!".
Many mothers welcomed home their children---they didn't get special attention. Her name did not need to be announced like that. She isn't the governor now she is a citizen like the rest of us. Why was she singled out for attention? I would have been impressed had she as a governor welcomed back the other returning units not just the Strykers. My husband's unit and others were also sent on an extended deployments....any peep from Palin. Nope. We got welcome home cards from the senators at least. I say, she chose the private citizen life so treat her like an everyday joe (joe the ex-governor).
Thanks to all the Soldiers and Sarah!
kina910 - what thanks does Sarah deserve? Oh quitting you bet! THANK GOD!!
BIG DIP - NO ONE CARES if Palin attended, get it! It's not hate, she doesn't matter.
so what?
who cares?
AK1958-
I've looked back at your collection of comments. You, of all people, seem consumed by negative thoughts of the governor. "...It's not hate...she doesn't matter...". Your posts reflect differently. Has she personally offended you?
As to your other expressed views, with Republicans like you, who needs Democrats?
Dognabber..."I'm sure she made sure many knew she would be there." Acvtually, her appearance was a surprise to everyone outside of the Army. The only people who knew of her appearance was the Protocol Office at Ft. Wainwright and Governor Parnell.
Nice try. Go back to your hole.
I knew I smelled sulfur in the air. Goodbye Palin for the last time. Who cares???
Oh for cryin' out loud, folks. The other day I went into town and saw something we've all been missing for a year. I saw a young, physically fit and well tanned father soothing his toddler as the lad got his first haircut. I saw smiling, complete young families as they shopped for the necessities of winter. I saw people all over town smiling as they went about mundane tasks that bring all of us to town from time to time.
The common factor was there were many young, tanned, physically fit men and women happy to be home, many wearing their BDUs.
Ladies and gentlemen, the BDUs are back. Those wearing the BDUs are happy to be back, and their families are happy to have them back.
Let's just enjoy them for a while. It won't be all that long before we start having reasons to cuss about them again.
Palin is a moot point. The important point is that our community is once again complete.
Whiner -- the Alaska mining industry is subject to:
state corporate tax
mining license tax
production royalty (on minerals produced from state lands)
state claim annual rentals
excise tax
local municipal taxes
federal corporate income tax
federal maintenance annual fees
workers comp & FUTA
The total tax burden for a corporation mining in Alaska ranges from 54% to 59% of gross profits. This will be increasing to 58% to 63% under the congressional donks new plan.
It's true that you know little and it's also true that you blather about things as if you know something. Now, you can blather about something that's true.
Oh_Please- How do you compare your families 5 generations with a Native families hundreds? We do not have a monarchy here. You cannot rest on the laurels of your fathers or grandfathers contributions to our society, only your contributions count. Read the Declaration of Indedependence, "all men are created equal". All men. A 4 day old child is an equal citizen with a 90 year old three war veteran. An imigrant 5 seconds after taking an oath of allegance has the same standing as you. The Zobel case made this pretty clear here in Alaska. To call this socialism is at first petty, and second profoundly wrong.
Palin offends Alaska
Why is this news. Lots of parents have come to see their kids home.
Hi,
Tankerwife, Sarah a hero; she quit. Her lust for money and fame is greater than her concern for Alaskans.
Have a great day
I still can't get past the fact she stepped down for the better good. What was that? Writing her book? Picking up a big paycheck in China? yyyyeah.....
anwrfriend -- would you have preferred that Sarah Palin had not resigned and remained governor, possibly until 2015?
Emotional rants equal liberal logic. Strykertrash, keep talking, people like you give the best endorsements that Palin can get. Kind of like when the KKK speaks out against Obama.
DNM - most people just don't care anymore about what Palin does. Seeing that quitter's name is just irritating.
Thanks for completely ignoring the point, Junior!
I know it's just your way...
You haven't been taking your POOFS meds, have you?
And robir? I'm just playing the devil's advocate and using all the stupid arguments the 'capitalists' on this board would use against any program that doesn't benefit them directly. It's amusing to see them piss and moan about health care, welfare, etc. and then vociferously defend THEIR free money from the government.
Good times...
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/6835/...
OP - that last image ... wow.. very powerful.
I honestly don't see what the hoopla is about here. She did just fine. It was not about her anyway. Gotta remember this is Alaska too where even after a politician is dead they have influence and a high recognition factor and their kids as well. I am grateful for the service and thankful as well that these soldiers have done.
If you are going to be concerned about something political it should be the preparations to export Alaska's natural gas in a way that benefits this state and its future the least.
OP, just ignore the fact that liberal policies have increased the numbers of homeless and abandoned people. You should learn to communicate using something other than slogans and bumper stickers.
I wish all you couch surfing Palin haters would go back to watching your soap operas while spending your pdf and entitlement checks on booze and dope. Your type do nothing to help change our corrupt political system. You only have enough brains to complain and drain the system you know so well how to use.
Cite please, roadie.
I'm still waiting for you to advocate for more taxes from fishing and mining going into the Permanent Fund.
EVERYONE'S A HERO NOW!!!!!!!! If I'm friends of a friend of a sister of a GI, am I a hero now too? God, can we possible overuse a single word any more??
"It is as throughout Alaska that big wild good life teeming along the road that is north to the future." Sarah Palin, quitting speech.
As reported in the Alaska Sunburnt newspaper.
July 30-August 5, 2009
Vol.18 Ed.31
AnchoragePress.com
Welcome back, Strykers! No matter the political stripe or opinion, we all value your service in defense of our country. For your service, for the inevitable repercussions that such service brings, we thank you.
And thanks to the families of our military, especially the spouses and children. Life without spouse and parent is never easy, and your service in that regard is honored as well.
And for those who fell in the line of duty and did not return - you are honored, and we will not forget.
That's all that is important in this story. Enough said.
So how many returning Alaska deployments had special ceremonies with newspaper headlines and TV crews?
How many ceremonies did Palin attend to recognize service, during her administration? Does the Governor speak at each one?
How many _other_ Alaskans have served, returned, and been officially honored along with their families with a ceremony by the Governor's office?
How many all-Native units from bush Alaska has any governor honored with a special ceremony? Some units have distinguished themselves when entire units qualify as Sharpshooters, apparently a rare thing. Will the Governor be holding a ceremony for this?
Does Governor Parnell intend to make this a tradition with every returning unit? I hope so.
Sarah, you're blasted no matter what you do. Keep on keeping on. Go Sarah GO!!!!!! She did visit a native unit already. You going to have to find another excuse to blast her with..Shouldn't be too hard.
We'll see what Obama will do with the $1.4 million he got from the travesty of "winning" a Nobel Prize. Will he donate it to a good cause and put the money where his big mouth is? yeah right....
Unbelievable, win a Nobel prize for going around the world bad-mouthing the USA. Notice how easy the word HOPE can be turned into what it really is in this case: HYPE. That's how Obama, his administration and his followers can be summed up in one word: HYPE.
"You're a hypocrite for taking the Dividend" is the new "Where were you?"
I heard on NPR this morning that Obama was nominated 12 days after his inauguration. The fix was in early on. This is possibly one of the most cynically political moves ever made by an international "peace" convention. Worse than Algore's.
Nasty Comments
My wife and I are newcomers to Fairbanks,Alaska.We find the a lot of hate coming from the likes of Hilda AK1958 ArticWriter and chenasteamer. My wife and I bet that you haters of Sarah Palin will be the first to buy her book.
There are those of us still out here that like Sarah. She may now be "one of us" but when she was in office she tried to think like one of us as well and she was destroyed by the media and the system. Not many of us would have lasted long under that type of scrutiny either.
Welcome home Strykers, please slow down and watch your driving.
twodogz, I'll come right out and say it, YOU are STUPID. She was the Governor for most of the deployment and SHE was the brigade mom. What she has done for these great people goes far beyond that of just having been the governor. She had every right in the world to be there and not one person mainly Hilda and justasking have a right to criticize her being there. I feel for all families who had loved ones deployed, however, not all of you contributed to their cause. I heard more often than not how a spouse would not participate in activities on post out of spite for taking their husband for a year. Sorry, but that’s his job and you all need to deal with it or get out. I suggest next time to get involved with activities that put together on post and contribute to help others get through the same situation.
I think they should give Sarah the Nobel Publicity Prize.
I think that giving Obama the Nobel Peace Prize is like awarding Sarah Palin a Nobel Prize for Literature. No one's seen the text, yet.
They should give Levi the Nobel Improbability Prize.
WHile I do not have an issue with Mrs. Palin being their at the ceremony, I do have an issue with her being the BDE Mom. I uderstnad why she was made the BDE mom, and I get the "political handshaking" and favors that go with that. I agree she has every right to welcome home her son, like every other family member in attendance.
What I have an issue with is how she was placed on a pedestal by Col. Thompson. And how when OUR WOUNDED WARRIORS WERE ALL PLACED IN THE SECOND ROW OF CHAIRS. While she sat up front ALL because of a position she left to pursue other interests. If she was only there to welcome her son home there were plenty of seats in the stands, or sh ecould have moved to the back row and allowed the family members of our fallen heroes and our wounded warriors be up front so that there brothers and sisters in arms could have seen them, and the families of our fallen heroes could have been sitting with the warriors the potentially could have been by their fallens heroes side when he or she died for our freedoms....Just my thoughts.
For God's sake everyone, a Soldier's Mother came to see her Son return from war after a long tormenting year of worrying and praying just like every other mother. Give it a rest.Yes, I am a former Stryker Mom.
mr_one_time:
Why do you interpret my statement as hate?
I merely said I do not care, that Sarah's presence
here or there or anywhere is not of importance.
Your misinterpretation is typical of fanatical Sarah
supporters. That, sir, is the problem - lack of
perspective and a leap from reality to extreme
emotionality.
Your attitude, frankly, frightens me.
ArcticWriter
My wife and I read your comments in your postings regarding Sarah Palin, It's obvious you don't really have a grasp on what's is happening,you're good at taking pot shots and can't handle anything critical that offends your love for obama and your hatered towards
Sarah Palin,What's really frightening is people like you that gossip
like hollywood trash writers,re-read your own gossip.
The headline of the article generated these comments. Had the headline read, Mrs. Howard attends Fort Wainwright brigade ceremony, there would be 5 comments all saying welcome home troops. She is who she is.
I'm no Palin fan but, like was mentioned above, she sent them off so it's only fitting that she see them return.
That being said, imagine the devastation that could have occurred if these soldiers quit right in the middle of their duty. Palin could learn a thing or two from these soldiers.
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