It’s been a sad day ever since I first heard that former U.S. Senator Ted Stevens was killed in a plane crash. Stevens was the longest serving Republican in the senate and his service to Alaska and the United States is second to none.

Earlier this year, we lost Senator Robert Byrd. These two men were giants in the Senate and in U.S. history. They fought for their states as senators are supposed to do and really could not care less what those outside of their states thought of their bringing home the bacon.

Stevens was affectionately known as “Uncle Ted” to Alaskans for bringing home that bacon.

Stevens has some ties to Montana. He attended Montana State College – now Montana State University and was accepted into the Army Air Force Air Cadet program there. He served with the Flying Tigers and was highly decorated veteran.

As chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee for several years in the mid 1990s to 2005, he helped Montana Senator Conrad Burns bring needed housing and infrastructure improvements to Malmstrom AFB as well as the whole state of Montana. Ted Stevens supported the troops whole-heartedly and knew what it was like to sacrifice and serve in our nation’s military, as did Burns.

Ironically, both Stevens and Burns were replaced in the U.S. Senate by a couple of bozos who have no military experience whatsoever and obtained their seats because of false accusations, with both losing reelection by less than 4000 votes.

I mourn with Alaskans today. We’ve lost a great man – a great senator – and a great veteran. Rest in Peace, Senator, Rest in Peace.