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17th District Public Affairs

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Media Advisory

Date: March 1, 2010

Contact: Petty Officer 1st Class David Mosley

(907) 321-4510

*Media Advisory* Coast Guard sponsored Iditarod musher to visit Eagle River Elementary School

VALDEZ, Alaska – Ken Anderson removes one of his dogs to share with children during a visit with the children of Herman Hutchins Elementary School, Valdez, Jan. 13, 2009. The school visit was the conclusion to a full day of touring Coast Guard as part of his getting to know more about the Coast Guard who is helping sponsor his 2010 race. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class David Mosley  VALDEZ, Alaska – Ken Anderson poses for a photo with crewmembers of Coast Guard Station Valdez, Jan. 13, 2009. The visit involved a full day of touring local Coast Guard units as part of his getting to know more about the Coast Guard who is helping sponsor his 2010 race. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class David Mosley  Eagle River map courtesy of Google Earth

Click on photos and map for full size image, map courtesy of Google Earth

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Coast Guard sponsored Iditarod musher Ken Anderson and Coast Guard personnel will be talking about the Iditarod and the missions of the Coast Guard during a visit with the students of Fire Lake Elementary School in Eagle River at 10 a.m. tomorrow.

Ken Anderson, a Fairbanks resident, is a nine-year Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race veteran who is running in the 2010 Iditarod race which will extend through 1049 miles of some of Alaska's toughest terrain.  Twice Anderson has finished the race in the top five, with his best finish in 2008 when he placed fourth out of 97 participants.

Along with Anderson’s visit, Coast Guard personnel will be displaying a 25-foot response boat from the Anchorage Maritime Safety and Security Team.

“The Coast Guard has a proud history here in Alaska,” said Cmdr. Darryl Verfaillie, commanding officer at Marine Safety Unit Valdez and sponsorship organizer.  “In our early history here in Alaska, dog sleds were used to help perform pivotal rescues of trapped whaling ship crews.  We are proud to pay respect to a rich Alaska Coast Guard history by participating in this great race.”

Media interested in attending the event should contact Petty Officer 1st Class David Mosley at 907-271-2660.

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