Alaska Veterans Memorial @ Denali SP

We were hoping to have a picnic lunch at Byers Lake in Denali State Park today, but the road down to the campground was closed to visitors ... as were many other roads. I guess it’s just too early in the season. From what I was able to glimpse through the tress, the lake was still frozen over so it would have been a scenic spot for sure.

Instead, we found picnic tables at the Alaska Veterans Memorial in the upper loop just off Parks Highway. The mosquitoes were out, but they weren’t biting so I’m guessing the males have emerged before the females as the latter are the ones that bite ... they need blood for their eggs.

The memorial was erected as a “... remembrance of the veterans of Alaska who served their country at home and throughout the world. ...” It consists of five upright panels, each dedicated to a branch of the Armed Services, with a brief description of the history of that service in Alaska.

Of particular importance was the statue dedicated to the Alaska National Guard. The panel read: “When the young Alaska National Guard was mobilized and sent to the States in 1941, the Alaska Territorial Guard was formed. It served at home with honor and distinction and without pay throughout the war. ...”Read more