newsminer.com

The statehood celebration attracted hundreds of people to Pioneer Park on a windy, rainy and cool evening.

The event began with an announcement about the "senior citizens" from Washington, D.C. who were going to speak, a verbal flub about Alaska's senior senator, Ted Stevens.

Stevens spoke briefly about his memories of the events 50 years ago in the U.S. Capitol, when he was working for Interior Secretary Fred Seaton.

He was with Seaton and Alaska's delegate to Congress, Bob Bartlett, when the U.S. House approved statehood 50 years ago today.

Stevens said that no one did more for the cause than Bartlett and he also praised Bill Egan, Ernest Gruening and Ralph Rivers. The had "statehood in their blood," he said.

He said they would all be pleased about the accomplishments the state has made in its first 50 years, a theme that Sen. Lisa Murkowski also touched on in her remarks to those assembled.

After the speeches, there was music and Stevens did a little dancing to some classic rock.

The line for the hot dogs and hamburgers stretched from near the back of the park, where the Alaskaland Zoo used to be, and over toward the playground.

The bonfire, which featured lots of pallets, took place near the Peger Road entrance. It helped warm things up.