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Palin tours Fort Wainwright, signs legislation

Jun-16-2008 » Filed Under: 1/25 SBCT , 172nd SBCT

Daily News-Miner

Gov. Sarah Palin was in Fairbanks Friday to sign two pieces of legislation that will help military veterans as well as the spouses of soldiers killed in combat.

The governor visited Fort Wainwright in the morning to sign House Bill 285, which gives cities the option of creating property tax exemptions for homes owned by the spouse of a soldier killed in combat. The bill takes effect in September, about the time of the expected deployment of the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

“The sad truth is that not all troops return home, and I believe the best and truest thing we can do to honor them is to provide for their families,” said Palin, whose son, Track, is stationed at Fort Wainwright.

The legislation was suggested by Susan Hernandez, whose husband, Sgt. Irving Hernandez, was killed by small-arms fire in July 2006 while on patrol in Mosul, Iraq. Hernandez was part of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, since reflagged as the 1-25th. Twenty-six members of the brigade were killed during a 16-month deployment in 2005 and 2006.

“The state of Alaska has done a great job with honoring my family and a lot of other families who decide to stay here,” Hernandez said. “I hope the other 49 states will take a look at Alaska as an example.” [...]


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