Legislature(2017 - 2018)BUTROVICH 205
01/23/2018 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SCR14 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SCR 14 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
SCR 14-DECORATION OF HONOR AWARD
3:32:10 PM
CHAIR MEYER announced the consideration of Senate Concurrent
Resolution 14 (SCR 14).
3:32:36 PM
SENATOR MIA COSTELLO, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska,
sponsor of SCR 14, stated that she would provide additional
information on the individuals being honored in the resolution
after her aide's introductory remarks.
3:32:58 PM
SORCHA HAZELTON, Staff, Senator Costello, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, provided an overview of SCR 14 as
follows:
Senate Concurrent Resolution 14 awards the Alaska
Decoration of Honor to three members of our military;
it recognizes those in 2017 that gave the ultimate
sacrifice in the service of our state.
Since 2007 the Legislature has honored these
sacrifices with the Alaska Decoration of Honor which
is presenting a medal to the surviving family and
friends; AS 26.05.342 allows this honor to be awarded
to the survivors of those members born in Alaska as
well as those stationed in Alaska, it requires a
resolution be passed by the Legislature in order to
provide this award to the families.
There have been roughly 241 recipients of this honor
since statehood, recognizing the important role
Alaskans have played and continue to play in our
state, national and international security; it is a
solemn occasion for a decoration of honor to be
necessary and it's always our hope that those who put
their lives on the line for Alaskans return home
safely.
Through this resolution we offer our condolences to
the family and friends of these three servicemen, we
honor their service and memorialize their sacrifice by
encouraging the passage of Senate Concurrent
Resolution 14.
3:34:19 PM
SENATOR COSTELLO presented the names and background information
for the individuals being honored as follows:
The first is Private First Class Hansen B. Kirkpatrick
who passed on July 2, 2017. He was a 19-year-old young
man from Wasilla. He served as a mortarman in the 1-36
Infantry stationed in Fort Bliss, Texas, and he died
in Helmand Province, Afghanistan from wounds sustained
during an indirect fire. He was considered a caring,
disciplined, and intelligent young soldier, and he
leaves a wife, Anastasia.
The next hero that we are honoring is Chief Warrant
Officer 2 Jacob M. Sims who died on October 28, 2017.
He lived in Oklahoma, Skagway, and Juneau. He passed
at 36-years-old as a combat engineer turned UH-60
Black Hawk helicopter pilot. He served for nearly two
decades with multiple hours in Kosovo, Iraq, and
Afghanistan. He was killed in a helicopter crash in
Afghanistan and leaves a wife: Alicia, daughters:
Shyanne, Marissa, Harper, and sons: Gavin and Grayson.
The final hero who we are honoring with this
concurrent resolution is Staff Sergeant David T.
Brabander, who passed on December 11, 2017. He was
from Wasilla, 24-years-old. He was a squad leader at
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER). He was
deployed in September to Afghanistan and killed when
his vehicle overturned in a combat zone. His loved
ones say that he loved the outdoors in Alaska.
CHAIR MEYER added that bringing the resolution forward saddened
him but affirmed that the state must honor its heroes.
3:37:04 PM
BRIAN DUFFY, Director, Division of Administrative Services,
Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, Joint Base
Elmendorf-Richardson, Richardson, Alaska, testified in support
of SCR 14 as follows:
We appreciate and echo the sentiments expressed by the
resolution's sponsor and appreciate the actions being
considered by this committee to honor our fallen
members. Many of us having served in uniform, the
adjutant general asked that we come forward and just
express both our appreciation for your actions and
express our condolences to the families on their loss.
SENATOR COGHILL asserted that one of the toughest duties for any
leader is to go see the surviving families and present the
information, an act that is both an honor and an awakening to
the tragic loss. He said the military protocol is the deepest
respect but is also a reminder to look soberly at the cost of
the men and women who serve our country as well as the families.
He summarized that the Alaska Decoration of Honor will be an
honor to families but a sad honor as well.
SENATOR EGAN stated that as a veteran himself he wanted to thank
Senator Costello for introducing SCR 14.
CHAIR MEYER noted that SCR 14 has a zero fiscal note.
3:39:46 PM
SENATOR GIESSEL moved to report SCR 14, version 30-LS1224\A from
committee with individual recommendations and attached zero
fiscal note.
3:39:58 PM
CHAIR MEYER announced that there being no objection, the motion
carried.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| SCR 14 Support Document - Obituaries.pdf |
SSTA 1/23/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SCR 14 |
| SCR 14 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SSTA 1/23/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SCR 14 |
| SCR 14 Version A.PDF |
SSTA 1/23/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SCR 14 |
| SCR14 Fiscal Note.pdf |
SSTA 1/23/2018 3:30:00 PM |
SCR 14 |