Local veteran honored
For his six years service as chairman of the Alaska Veterans Advisory Council, long-time Juneau resident Pat Carothers has been awarded the Alaska Legion of Merit.
Carothers, who served for 36 years with the U.S. Marine Corps and veteran of World War II, the Korean War and the conflict in Vietnam, accepted the award at a ceremony in Anchorage on Oct. 2. Maj. Gen. Phillip E. Oates presented the award.
Carothers was appointed to the Veterans Advisory Council in 1996 by Gov. Tony Knowles. Members of the council, which include ex-legislators, former mayors and commanders of the Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, selected Carothers to be chairman.
In his six years of service, Carothers is most proud of the endowment fund passed by the Alaska Legislature this year that provides funds for repair, replacement or initial installment of veterans memorials.
He also is proud of the statute that established the council as a permanent council.
"Heretofore it was just an executive council, which meant that a governor could just abolish it," he said. "But it's carved in granite now, so it can't be abolished."
The current Alaska Veterans Advisory Council, appointed by Gov. Knowles, will be dissolved on Dec. 31. A new council, to be appointed by Gov.-elect Frank Murkowski, will be installed Jan. 1.
Carothers feels the highest-priority issue for Alaska veterans at this time is acquiring funding to convert the Alaska Pioneers' home system to Alaska Pioneers' and Veterans' Homes. Pioneers' Homes in Alaska currently have 100 empty beds but no money to hire staff to serve new residents.
"The Legislature passed the bill but did not pass a way to fund it," Carothers said. "Those beds should be filled."
In addition to concerns over housing for aging veterans, Carothers plans to work for a veterans' cemetery in the Fairbanks area and for veterans recognition for Alaska Natives who served in the Alaska Territorial Guard.