Military Appreciation Banquet - Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce, AK

This year marks the 53rd anniversary of the Military Appreciation Banquet, an event that started out as small dinner-in-the-home parties hosted by Jim and Rosemary Messer* for their friends in the military. It quickly grew and prospered into the banquet style event it is today, hosting over 600 people annually. The evening honors military personnel from Interior Alaska in recognition of their excellence, leadership, and commitment in service to our armed forces. The banquet is a great way for our community to show our gratitude and support for our friends in uniform.

The banquet program includes recognition of military members who have exhibited distinguished service to our country and volunteer of the year recipients from each of out local installations including Eielson AFB, Ft Wainwright, Clear Space Force Station, and Ft. Greely. A member of the community, identified by military leadership for their promotion of military/community relations over the years will be awarded with the Jim Messer Award.

This event would not be possible without the generous support of the business community. If you are interested in sponsoring this event, please call us at (907) 452-1105.

*Jim Messer was the Chairman of the Military Affairs Committee for the Fairbanks Chamber for many years and, for decades, he was on the front lines of our community’s efforts to offer the military an environment of friendliness, first-class housing, and a quality of life second to none.
2023 Keynote Speaker

General Ken Wilsbach

U.S. Air Force
- Full Press Release

General Wilsbach is the Commander, Pacific Air Forces; Air Component Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command; and Executive Director, Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. PACAF is responsible for Air Force activities spread over half the globe in a command that supports more than 46,000 Airmen serving principally in Japan, South Korea, Hawaii, Alaska and Guam.

Gen. Wilsbach was commissioned in 1985 as a distinguished graduate of the University of Florida’s ROTC program and earned his pilot wings in 1986 as a distinguished graduate from Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. He has commanded a fighter squadron, operations group, two wings, two Numbered Air Forces and held various staff assignments including Director of Operations, Combined Air Operations Center and Director of Operations, U.S. Central Command. Prior to his current assignment, Gen. Wilsbach was the Deputy Commander, U.S. Forces Korea; Commander, Air Component Command, United Nations Command; Commander, Air Component Command, Combined Forces Command; and Commander, Seventh Air Force, Pacific Air Forces, Osan Air Base, South Korea.

Gen. Wilsbach is a command pilot with more than 5,000 hours in multiple aircraft, primarily in the F-15C, F-16C, MC-12, and F-22A, and has flown 71 combat missions in operations Northern Watch, Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom.

Past Messer Award Winners
1994 Jim Messer, Chairman Emeritus, GFCC Military Affairs Committee

1995            Frank Chapados, Member, Civilian Advisory Board, Alaskan Command

1996            Dr. William Wood, Past President, University of Alaska and Past Mayor, City of Fairbanks

1997            Senator Gary Wilken, Chairman, Joint Military Affairs Committee, Alaska Legislature

1998            Chick Wallace, Alaska Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army

1999            Richard Wien, Chairman, Interior Civilian-Military Airspace Committee

2000            Steve Lundgren, Past President, Alaska Air Force Association

2001            Karen Washburn, Chairperson, GFCC Military Affairs Committee

2002            Rhonda Boyles, Mayor, Fairbanks North Star Borough

2003            Ted Stevens, Alaska Senior Senator and Pro Temp President of the Senate

2004            Bill Brophy, Co-Chair, GFCC Military Affairs Committee

2005            Billy Blanchard, Co-Chair, GFCC Military Affairs Committee and Past President, Polar Bear Chapter, AUSA

2006            Jim Dodson, Chairman of the “Save Eielson” Committee for BRAC Testimony

2007            Steve Thompson, Mayor of the City of Fairbanks

2008            Butch Stein, Chairman, GFCC Military Affairs Committee

2009            Senator Lisa Murkowski, Senior Senator from Alaska

2010            Althea St. Martin, Executive Assistant to Senator Lisa Murkowski

2011            Lisa Herbert, Executive Director, Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce

2012            Kevin Robinson, Manager, Lithia Chevrolet

2013            Doug Isaacson, Former Mayor of North Pole

2014            Luke Hopkins, Mayor, Fairbanks North Star Borough

2015            Harry Cook, State Wide President, Air Force Association

2016            Mike Ferguson, Ret Col and Military Appreciation Banquet Honorary Chair

2017            Jim Dodson, Fairbanks Economic Development Corp

2018            Tim Jones, Alaska Civilian Aide to the secretary of the Army and chair of the GFCC Military Affairs

Committee

2019            Karl Kassel, Former Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor

2022 Nathan Bergerbest, Former Deputy Chief of Staff for Senator Lisa Murkowski

2023 Mayor Bryce Ward, Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor

Thank you to our 2023 sponsors!
- Presenting Sponsor
- Service Sponsor
- Reception Sponsor
- Decorations Sponsor
- Entertainment Sponsor
- Program Sponsor
- Photo Booth Sponsor
- Place Card Sponsor
- Dessert Sponsor
- Production Sponsor
- Coin Sponsor
- Supporting Sponsors

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Past Messer Award Winners

Thank you to our 2023 sponsors!