U.S. Army retired Staff Sgt. Orville Ahkinga, of Little Diomede, shares experiences from his combined 32 years of active duty and Alaska National Guard service during a state of Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs outreach event at the Aurora Inn in Nome, Alaska, July 9, 2022. The state of Alaska Office of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Rural Health work with rural community partners to assist eligible veterans with receiving their earned state and federal benefits. (Alaska National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Balinda O’Neal)