Senator Murkowski's Comments on the Tragic Death of Alaskan Boy Scout Leaders
SENATOR MURKOWSKI'S COMMENTS ON THE TRAGIC DEATH OF ALASKAN BOY SCOUT LEADERS
Sen. Lisa Murkowski issued the following statement today regarding the tragic death of Alaskans at the Boy Scout Jamboree in Virginia:
"When people ask me what the best thing about Alaska is, I could talk about the mountains or the forests or the salmon. They are all wonderful. But the very best thing about Alaska is the people. The spirit of volunteerism and civic engagement is what makes Alaska one of the best places in our Nation to live and to raise a family. "Alaskans do not only invest their time and energy in their own children. They also invest in the development of their neighbor's children. This spirit of giving manifests itself in the thousands of hours that adult volunteers contribute to youth activities, like Scouting. "Scouting enriches the lives of young people in many parts of my State because adult volunteers give generously of their time to work with our young people. My own two sons proudly participate in Scouting as members of Troop 176 in Anchorage. "Last evening four adult volunteer leaders associated with the Western Alaska Council of the Boy Scouts of America lost their lives at the Boy Scout Jamboree which is taking place at Fort A.P. Hill near Fredericksburg, Virginia.
"I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of Ron Bitzer, Michael LaCroix, and Michael Shibe of Anchorage and Scott Powell, a former resident of Alaska who served for more than 20 years as the Program Director of Camp Gorsuch, Alaska's Boy Scout Camp. And I wish a speedy recovery to Larry Call, of Anchorage who was injured in the incident.
"Heroes are not remembered for the way they lost their lives, but for the way they lived their lives. The four individuals who we pause to think about today will be remembered for the way they lived their lives. They will be remembered as heroes for the service that they gave to the young people of Alaska."
The Alaska Congressional Delegation has established a hot line to call to obtain information regarding these events: (202) 228-3029.
http://murkowski.senate.gov/pressapp/record.cfm?id=241620