2009 JUNETEENTH ALASKA ALCAN HIGHWAY CELEBRATION
October 28-31, 2009
Schedule of Events
Wednesday, October 28th
Juneteenth Military Honors Awards Reception
Fort Wainwright
Fairbanks, Alaska
Wreath Laying Ceremony - Alcan Highway
Proud members of the U.S. Army from Fort Wainwright, AK and Fort Greeley, AK, along with Delta Junction, AK Mayor Mary
Leith-Dowling, Fairbanks, AK NAACP President Tilmon Taylor, Fairbanks, AK School Board Vice-President, Wendy Dominique,
Dr. Ron Myers, Bishop Dave Thomas and staff representatives of Congressman Don Young, Lt. Governor Craig Campbell,
Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Sen. Mark Begich attended a Juneteenth Military Honors Awards Reception and Wreath Laying
Ceremony in honor of African American amry engineers who built the Alaska Alcan Highway and completed the Chief
Sikinna River Bridge on October 28, 1942. Lt. Colonel Timothy Jones and Lt. Colonel Chris Chronis spoke passionately
about the important accomplishments of the completion of the Alaska Alcan Highway during World War II. Dr. Ron Myers,
National Juneteenth Jazz Artist and accomplished jazz musician, performed an original composition on pocket trumpet in
honor of the African American army engineers entitled "Alcan."
Fort Greely Commander's Speech - Lt. Colonel Chris Chronis
AC News Story on "Fort Wainwright celebrates African American soldiers"
1422 Alaska Highway
Delta Junction, Alaska
Thursday, October 29th
Juneteenth Alaska Alcan Highway Celebration Lecture Series
The 1st Annual 2009 Juneteenth Alaska Alcan Highway Lecture Series got off to a great start with the the showing of the DVD of the PBS film documentary,
" Building the Alaska Highway." This was followed by a discussion pressented by Christopher Roe, a Historical Archaeologist specializing in World War II
and a student with the Department of History at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA). The lecture was hosted by the UAA AHAINA Student Programs
Department. In attendence were Dr. Stephen Washington, Director of the AHAINA Student Programs, along with staff members Marva Watson and Carey D.
Brown. Dr. Ron Myers, Bishop Dave Thomas and several students were also in attendence, along with Professor Dave Smith from the UAA Dept. of Anthropology.
University of Alaska Anchorage
UAA AHAINA Student Programs, Rasmuson Hall, Room #106
Anchorage, Alaska
Friday, October 30th
1st Annual Anchorage Juneteenth Jazz & Arts Festival
Opening Juneteenth Alaska Alcan Highway Celebration Art Exhibit
with Gov. Sean Parnell featuring
world reknowned African American abstract artist:
Dick Griffin
Juneteenth Alaska Alcan Highway Celebration Jazz Concert
featuring master jazz trombonist and National Juneteenth Jazz Commissioner:
Dick Griffin
Dick Griffin and Dr. Myers presenting Gov. Sean Parnell with a Juneteenth Book at the Juneteenth
Art Exhibit. The exhibit featured several original art pieces of the world reknowned African American
abstract painter and master jazz trombonist (photos above). Dick Griffin (trombone) in concert
with Ron Myers (paino), Rick Zelinsky (saxes), Dirk Westfall (bass), John Damberg (drums),
with Alaska Jazz Initiative students and quests performing, along with a
a local gospel group (photos below).
(photos courtesy of Bishop Dave Thomas)
Z. J. Loussac Public Library
Anchorage, Alaska
Saturday, October 31st
Juneteenth Alaska Alcan Highway Celebration Prayer Luncheon
with Lt. Governor Craig Campbell
Dr. Myers & Bishop Dave Thomas receiving an Alaskan flag flown over the
state capital on October 28, 2009 in Juneau, AK by Lt. Gov. Craig Campbell
in honor of the African American army engineers who brought down the wall
of segregation in the U.S. military. Lt. Gov. Campbell also receiving a
Juneteenth Book by Dr. Myers and an original art print by Dick Griffin.
(photos courtesy of Bishop Dave Thomas)
Fairview Community Recreation Center
1121 East 10th Avenue
Anchorage, Alaska