An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

NEWS | April 27, 2021

Alaska National Guard armory honor pole restored by original artists, Vietnam veteran and son

By Spc. Grace Nechanicky Alaska National Guard Public Affairs

The Alaska National Guard’s honor pole, which is a monument dedicated to the profound contributions of Alaska Natives to the safety and heritage of the state in the past and present, proudly sits in front of the Alaska National Guard armory here and is seen by everyone who enters the building. This 11.5-foot pole, built by George Bennett Sr., a Vietnam war veteran and rural veteran liaison with Alaska’s Veterans Affairs, and his son, James Bennett, was refurbished April 16-17 after 12 years of standing tall in front of the building.
 
Although this structure bears many similarities to the totem poles of the Tlingit culture, it is considered an “honor pole.”
 
“As an honor pole, it is no longer synonymous with one people,” explained James.
 
The honor pole was originally carved out of red and yellow cedar in 2007 in Sitka by the Bennetts. After some help from friends and family with painting it, the pole was sent to Anchorage by 2008, where it arrived at the Construction and Facilities Management Office building. While the pole was there, retired Brig. Gen. Mike Bridges took it upon himself to take care of the honor pole until it reached its final destination in front of the armory.
 
In 2015, the father-son duo traveled up to Anchorage to cleanse the honor pole during a ceremony. At this time, James also showed his appreciation to Bridges for caring for the honor pole by adopting him into their culture during the ceremony.
 
“With our culture, we treat it [the pole] as it’s a person, a living thing, so I highly respected that,” said James.
 
Bridges also bonded with George over their shared military experiences in the 25th Infantry Division. When he first met him, George was wearing a 25th ID hat from his time in service, and Bridges had his 25th ID deployment patch on.
 
“That struck up kind of a brotherhood conversation, and then I learned he worked for the VA as well,” said Bridges. “That was significant, because I was spending more time working with Verdie Bowen [the director of the Office of Veterans Affairs] and veterans at the time.”
 
Bridges assisted the Bennetts with the restoration of the honor pole April 17.
 
To restore the honor pole, it was taken down, sanded, and putty was put in the cracks to keep the wood from expanding or growing mold.
 
“In our culture, we actually don’t restore totem poles, because when they fall, they are returning to the land,” said James. “We just build them back up again. This isn’t a totem pole, it’s an honor pole, which is why we can restore it.”
 
Bennett said that the due to the symbolism of this particular pole, restoring it is appropriate.
 
The different parts of the honor pole incorporate symbols of pan-Alaskan Indigenous regional cultures; the bowhead whale is for the north, the caribou is for the interior, the raven is for the southeast, the masks are for the southwest, and the box at the base that has “ATG” carved into it for the Alaska Territorial Guard is the “spirit box” that holds the names of National Guard veterans.
 
“The ATG box at the bottom, the foundation of it all, contains the military spirit of those volunteers,” said George.
 
“We look at it as restoring history,” James added. “That’s really what that pole is all these years later; it’s history, telling a story in a language that is very unique to this land.”
Alaska Air National Guardsman volunteers as JROTC drill judge
February 22, 2024
Alaska Air National Guardsman volunteers as JROTC drill judge

Bison Company’s cold weather training triumphs in Bethel
February 7, 2024
Bison Company, 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, demonstrated readiness and resilience during their cold weather training in Bethel, Alaska, February 2-4, 2024.
This training marked a significant reunion for the Alaska Army National Guard infantry unit in Bethel, emphasizing the city's importance as a training ground that challenges Soldiers to adapt and excel in real-world scenarios.

Alaska Naval Militia, U.S. Navy Reserve pay tribute to S-26 submariners
January 24, 2024
In a solemn gathering at the U.S. Navy Reserve Center on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, sailors from the Alaska Naval Militia and U.S. Navy Reserve assembled Jan. 24, to pay homage to their fallen comrades lost 82 years ago.

Aircraft maintenance Airmen critical part of Pave Hawk transport mission
January 11, 2024
Airmen from the Alaska Air National Guard 176th Aircraft Maintenance from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, and the active duty 718th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron from Kadena Air Base, Japan, conducted a joint operation to transport an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter from Bethel to JBER in early January 2024.

Alaska National Guard's Operation Santa Claus spreads holiday cheer to remote communities
December 5, 2023
Alaska Air National Guard pilots 1st Lt. Skylar Caldwell, left, and Capt. Gerren Blair, and loadmaster, Tech Sgt. John Teamer II, enjoy time with Santa and Mrs. Claus while flying the festive couple to Bethel during Operation Santa Claus Nov. 15, 2023.

Alaska Military Youth Academy honored with Gold Pan Award
November 22, 2023
The Anchorage Chamber of Commerce hosted the 66th Annual Gold Pan Awards on Nov. 17, 2023, at the Dena'ina Center in Anchorage.

Alaska National Guard's Operation Santa Claus makes a lifesaving detour
November 16, 2023
From the left, Holly Demert and Clifton Dalton, both flight paramedics with LifeMed, and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Bryan Kruse, Bethel Army Aviation Operating Facility commander, move a critically ill patient from an AKARNG UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter to an ambulance during a medical evacuation from Napaskiak to Bethel, Nov. 15, 2023

Cadets soar in Civil Air Patrol search and rescue exercise
November 13, 2023
Civil Air Patrol Lt. Col. Stephen Sammons, left, Alaska Wing emergency services officer, instructs CAP cadets from the Southcentral Region where to find an Emergency Locator Transmitter onboard a Cessna 172 aircraft during a three-day training event Nov. 4, 2023, at the Birchwood Airport in Chugiak, Alaska.

A new set of cross pistols: AKARNG "Wolf Gang" Military Police Company deactivates, ushering in new detachment
November 3, 2023
Alaska Army National Guard Capt. Michael Thrall, left, outgoing commander, and 1st Sgt. Bethany Amarone, outgoing noncommissioned officer in charge, both assigned to the 297th Military Police Company, retire the colors of the unit’s flag as part of a deactivation ceremony for the company at the Alcantra Armory in Wasilla, Alaska, Nov. 2, 2023.

Alaska Army National Guard’s Bison Company set to deploy to Middle East
September 30, 2023
Alaska Army National Guard 1st Sgt. Oliver Meza, Bravo Company first sergeant, shows off his unit’s patch during a deployment ceremony where family members, friends, and fellow Guardsmen came together to pay tribute to Soldiers of B Co., 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, at the Alaska National Guard Armory on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Sept. 29, 2023.