On the recordJuly 15, 2010
as I mentioned, this has been a very difficult week for our military and our veterans communities in the State of Alaska. On Tuesday of this week we came together in Sitka, at Sitka Air Station, the Coast Guard air station there, to honor the memory of three members of the U.S. Coast Guard who gave their lives in a very tragic accident, the crash of an H-60 Jayhawk helicopter. This was off the coast of Washington on July 7. It was a real tragedy for the Coast Guard families as a whole. The community of Sitka is one that truly embraces the men and the women of the Coast Guard. In addition to being the ones who pluck the fishermen out of the sea when they are in jeopardy or at risk, these are the men and women who are helping in the local churches, helping with Boy and Girl Scouts, coaching the kids. They are truly members of our community. The loss of these three men is very painful for us all.
