Day 130 (September 16, 2010) Return of Day 92 Grizzly Bear

Farewell to Savage Cabin

Since May I have been working as a Living History Interpreter here in Alaska at Denali National Park and Preserve. This Summer I portrayed a 1941 United States National Park Service Mount McKinley National Park Ranger. I have kept a daily blog, along with photos and video on the Facebook Group Page: Zach's Living History Adventure in Alaska. Which is why there haven't been too many posts to this page. However, as this Adventure of mine is coming to a close I will be switching back here for my "regular life" posts ;)

Anyway, today I felt like I wanted to make sure I posted the video that I recorded this afternoon upon the completion of my season here in Denali. This summer in 324 performances I entertained and educated 549 Tour Buses with an estimated 23,058 tourists on board.

Here is my farewell to life at Savage Cabin, Mount McKinley National Park, 1941:

Happy Birthday America...

"The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not."

~John Adams, July 3, 1776

Above All...

(click on image for full size photo)

Old Glory flying above Mt. Eielson, from the Eielson Visitors Center, Denali National Park and Preserve. All in memory of Carl Ben Eielson.

I snapped this photo, for as I stood there yesterday afternoon seeing this image I couldn't help but think and my mother and sister who were in Arlington National Cemetery in honor of another group of Airmen.

Seeing this image in person or in picture, I can't think of a more fitting motto than that of the US Air Fore:

ABOVE ALL

Memorial Day 2010

For some households everyday is Memorial Day.

This post is dedicated to the family of Staff Sergeant David P. Spears, US Army, 25th Infantry. "Chief of Smoke" 2/9 Field Artillery, 'B' Battery. KIA 24 July 1966, Ia Drang Valley, Central Highlands, Vietnam.