Congratulations to the Nominees and Recipients of the 2011 Alaska National Guard Army Values Awards
2011 IRON DOG – ARMY VALUES AWARDS
The Alaska National Guard chose to sponsor the Iron Dog race because this race is an EXTREME and distinctly Alaskan Race but also because we like to think that its Board, Its Sponsors, Its Volunteers, and Its Racer-Athletes exemplify the Seven Values of Duty, Respect , Honor, Integrity, Selfless Service, Integrity, and Personal Courage.
The Alaska National Guard proudly presents the following Seven Army Value awards as nominated and voted on by sponsors, community and board members, racers, and anyone involved with the Irondog including fans via the web.
LOYALTY – SKIP BOOMERSHINE
The 2011 Irondog – Army Value Award for LOYALTY as defined as bearing true faith and allegiance to the friends, family, and organizations to which you belong.
- Selfless in every way. Not Only to the race itself but to all the communities along the way
- An incredible Mentor
DUTY – MIKE BEDARD
The 2011 Iron Dog – Army Value Award for DUTY as defined as Fulfilling ones obligations.
- Mike demonstrates his willingness to not just fulfuill his obligation but also to go the extra mile to aid others.
- Helped out on the trail all the way; made sure all team members where on the trail and safe.
RESPECT – JOHN JOHNSTON
The 2011 Iron Dog – Army Value Award for RESPECT as defined as treating people as they should be treated.
- He is so loyal to the Iron Dog; he’s on the Board and is a volunteer also. He has spent every weekend for the past month or more, on his snowmachine out marking the trails, trimming the trails, on the phone with the main office and other board members, to make sure this race is one of the safest races possible. He has given his time, his money in gas and the use of his personal snowmachine, use of his personal motorhome to use at a checkpoint. He does all without complaint.
- Always willing to help out in Fairbanks undertaking the new finish route. This was very time consuming.
SELFLESS SERVICE – CHRIS GRAEBER
The 2011 Iron Dog – Army Value Award for SELFLESS SERVICE as defined Putting the welfare of friends, family and organization before your own.
- Chris has volunteered her time and money for years as a volunteer of the Iron Dog. She is always a cheerful and selfless person.
HONOR – LABAN IYATUNGUK, Jr.
The 2011 Iron Dog – Army Value Award for HONOR as defined denoting a fines sense of, and strict conformity to what is considered morally right or due.
- Manned the checkpoint at Nome all night long.
- Stood in the wind verifying accurate times for the racers.
INTEGRITY – JEFFREY JOHNSON
The 2011 Iron Dog – Army Value Award for INTEGRITY as defined Doing what is right, legally and morally.
- Is an honest moral person. You can trust what he says. He is an outstanding Christian man and his faith governs his life and actions…
- If he tells you that he will do something, then Jeffrey will definitely do it…
PERSONAL COURAGE – BILLY LONG
The 2011 Iron Dog – Army Value Award for PERSONAL COURAGE as defined as facing fear, danger, or adversity (physical or moral).
- Billy Long helped another team along the trail quite possibly ending their chance to finish the race.
- After scratching from the race at Galena, Billy continued to participate in the Iron Dog race as a volunteer.
ALL ARMY VALUES AWARD
Special recognition goes to Chris Olds and Tyler Huntington who did not receive any of these awards but on the basis of the numerous testimonials of racers and support personnel alike, they certainly qualified for all of these awards. They are the Alaska National Guards selection for the 2011 Iron Dog – All Army Values Award.
HONORABLE MENTION
We would like to recognize all those nominated with special recognition to the many individuals that did not receive this award but were nominated on multiple counts.
THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT AWARDS
The Alaska National Guard will present to the following communities a plaque in appreciate for and recognition of OUTSTANDING volunteer support to the Iron Dog. The communities along the 2000 mile route aided racers in completing the longest most grueling Snowmachine race in the world and demonstrated incredible selfless service, duty, and loyalty. This race would not be possible without their support.
The communities and villages are:
- Big Lake
- Skwentna
- Shell Lake
- Puntilla Lake
- Rohn Roadhouse
- Nikolai
- McGrath
- Ophir
- Nikolai
- Poorman
- Ruby
- Galena
- Kaltag
- Unalakleet
- Shaktoolik
- Koyuk
- White Mountain
- Nome
- Tanana
- Manley
- Nenana
- North Pole
- Fairbanks
Other communities not designated as official Checkpoints, such as the community of Elim and Golovin which distinguished themselves by providing shelter for riders at critical moment during the race will also receive this recognition.
THE OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SUPPORT AWARD
This award goes to the community that exemplified the Army Values above all others. While this choice is a hard one to make because so many communities gave so much to this race, the Ambassador team was tasked with making the call.
The community selected to receive the award for Outstanding Community Support this year is: NOME, ALASKA
This award will be given to JOSIE STILES in recognition for her role in the community.
The Nominees as chosen by the public.
LOYALTY
Skip Boomershine
Espen Jervsjo
Cynthia Erickson
Herrite Fenerity
Kent Herrington
Cameron Iyatunguk
Mike Bedard
Steve & Jody Nolan
Dennis Falldorf
John Johnston
Eric Johnson
Skip Boomershine
Ron Zugg
Marty from Ape
Joyce Logan
Team 8
Ed Pitka
Jim Wilke
DUTY
John Johnston
Marriane Beckam
Mike Bedard
Joe D’Amico
Andy George
Joyce Logan
Trampes Woellert
Team 8
Ed Pitka
Ray Debenham
Frankie Harris
Mike Bedard
James Hastings
Chase Booth
LTC Lawendowski
Marlon Paul
Steve Nolan
RESPECT
John Johnston
Jim Wilke
Mark Ivy
Ron Zugg
Wess Gurtler
Eric Quam
Eric Johnson
Team 8 – Tyler Aklestad & Tyson Johnson
Ed Pitka
Marianne Beckham
Skip Boomershine
John Johnston
Cheryl Boomershine
Nick Higdem
Laurel Hickel
Kevin Kastner
SELFLESS SERVICE
John Johnston
Chris Graeber
Todd Minnick
Click Bishop
Ernest E. Barndt
Scott Davis
Joyce Logan
Team 8 – Tyler Aklestad & Tyson Johnson
Ed Pitka
Skip Boomershine
Marlin Paul
Chris Graeber
Jody Foreman
Team 27
Mike Woods
Dan Thibanlt
Cheryl Boomershine
Town of Elim
HONOR
John Johnston
Butch Novak
Joseph Lawendowski
Sabre Jervsjo
Todd Palin
Joyce Logan
Team 8 – Tyler Aklestad & Tyson Johnson
Ed Pitka
Laban Iyatunguk, Jr.
Jim Wilke
Laban Iyatunguk, Jr.
King Career Center Students
Mark Ivy
INTEGRITY
John Johnston
Tyson Johnson
Mike Bedard
Joe D’Amico
Maryann race coordinator
Joyce Logan
Manley Youth (Kjitil, Lexie,Katie,Ryan & Jessica)
Team 8
Ed Pitka
Jeffrey Johnson
Jeffrey Johnson
Josie Stiles
Butch Novak
Laurel Hickel
Chris Graebber
PERSONAL COURAGE
John Johnston
Tyson Johnson
Lanet Spence
Todd Palin
Charles Potter
Tyson Johnson
Team 8
John Dart
Ed Pitka
Kevin Kastner
Jeffrey Johnson
Mike Bedard
Mike Bedard
Team 27 – Mike Fuller & Billy Long
Kevin Kastner
Billy Long
