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Alaska has strong ties to the Armed Forces. If you live in Anchorage or Fairbanks you’ll have seen the impact of Fort Richardson, the Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Wainwright on the local economy and infrastructure. Estimates from the last Census reckon that there are about 20,500 soldiers plus family members stationed in Alaska. Alaska’s population also has the highest percentage of veterans in the nation; about 13.6 percent of Alaskan residents have served in the military. And from that group, a relatively high percentage are minorities.
According to the publication “American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans” on the Veterans Administration website, some 5,469 veterans in Alaska identified as Alaska Native or American Indian, or about 8 percent of all veterans in the state. The document also states that in 2010, nationwide, Alaska Native/American Indian veterans had the lowest median personal incomes of all veterans.
Last year around this time we wrote about grant opportunities for projects to help veterans. This year, in honor of Armed Forces Day last weekend, we’d like to highlight four great organizations that are providing much-needed services and support to Alaskan veterans. Know of any other organization that deserves to be on this list? Let us know in the comments!
Empowering veterans in search of a livelihood in civilian life is the Alaska Veterans Business Alliance, a nonprofit organization that seeks to provide a network of contacts for veterans who are small-business owners.
From their website:
“(The Alaska Veterans Business Alliance mission is to) provide Veterans including Service Disabled Veterans with the tools and resources they need to be successful in business by fostering entrepreneurship and business opportunities.”
Alaska Veterans Organization for Women (AVOW), is a nonprofit program of YWCA Alaska, and aims to connect, empower and honor women veterans in the state.
“(AVOW’s) vision is to support women veterans through advocacy, collaboration, and empowerment to encourage connection with each other and their communities.
Through acknowledging and honoring Alaska women veterans’ experiences and achievements, they support and affirm the contributions of all veterans in our society.”
The Alaska's Healing Hearts nonprofit organization serves wounded veterans from around the nation, by organizing and providing outdoor recreation opportunities in Alaska, such as hunting, fishing and skiing.
“(Alaska’s Healing Hearts programs) are not just the clinical rehabilitation programs which injured military personnel usually participate in; they also provide disabled Veterans with hope that they can live active and productive lives. Based on our own experiences these programs help bolster confidence and self esteem, while serving as a venue for them to assimilate with the public.”
The volunteer-staffed Alaska Veteran’s Museum, which opened in Anchorage in 2011, provides a place for veterans to tell their stories, and for non-veterans to honor the people who have sacrificed for our country.
“We continue, unwavering, with our mission; preserve the memory of veterans and of their sacrifices for America's freedom, educate the community, and support veterans and active duty personnel. And so, we aid Boy Scouts & Girls Scouts earning Americanism badges. We have movie nights and books signings. We send historians into schools to educate kids. We send more Fan Mail to Troops than any other small organization in the United States.”
Want to learn more about what services veterans in your community need? Contact the Alaska Office of Veteran’s Affairs.
