Honor to our Nation’s Heroes

by Greg Lincoln

On Memorial Day we honor and remember the selfless heroes of the armed forces who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service of our country, our families, and our children. And we also remember our loved ones – those who have gone on before us, keeping their memories alive by visiting their resting places.

The day falls on the last Monday of May. It is solemn day of mourning for our fallen heroes and our beloved ones.

Our Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10041 in Bethel hosted the Memorial Day Ceremony at the Alaska Territorial Guard Park. The park features a Wall of Honor, listing the names of all the members from the region who served in the Alaska Territorial Guard by village – many of whom are our elders who have passed on. The ATG were also known as the Eskimo Scouts.

There were 6,368 Eskimo Scouts in the ATG including women, which was formed in 1942 to defend the Alaskan coast from hostile attack. The ATG was disbanded in 1947 and forgotten. No military formal status was bestowed, despite their military service. And then the years rolled on by like they often do.

In 2000, Senator Ted Stevens sponsored a bill that granted full US Veteran Status to the Alaska Territorial Guard. Finally, the ATG was acknowledged for their invaluable service. Thank you so much.

A book about the Alaska Territorial Guard was published in 1969 Men of the Tundra: Eskimos at War by Muktuk Marston. The Territorial Governor at the time was Ernest Gruening who served as Commander-in-Chief for the ATG. U.S. Army’s Major who was Marston helped him recruit the scouts, along with Captain Schreibner. The ATG defended the homeland mostly on their own, keeping watch and securing their land.

The ATG Park in Bethel was established in 2012 with sponsorship from the State of Alaska, and the City of Bethel, the VFW Post 10041 and the Post Auxiliary, and countless volunteers. A bronze statue of an Eskimo Scout stands guard as the centerpiece on a tall pedestal, facing west.

A crowd gathered for the Memorial Day Ceremony at the Park under beautiful sunny skies and a brisk wind. The VFW Post 10041 members conducted the ceremony with short speeches and the placing of tokens in the hallowed ground.