FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 10, 2006

Ceremony Recognizing State Representative John Coghill for Support of Alaska Native Veterans and Shields Allotments – May 8, 2006

On May 8, 2006, Representative John Coghill was recognized for his work on behalf of Alaska Native Vietnam Veterans. Edward K. Thomas, President of Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska and members of the Southeast Alaska Native Veterans Association presented recognition awards to Representative Coghill for his sponsorship and work on House Joint Resolution number 27 (HJR 27) which urges Congress to amend the current Alaska Native Vietnam Veterans Allotment Act and reopen allotments in Southeast Alaska closed by a Ninth Circuit Court decision in 1983. HJR 27 was introduced by Representative Coghill in January 2006 and it unanimously passed both the House and Senate.

The amendments to the Veterans Allotment Act addressed by HJR 27 were introduced in Congress in 2005 by Senator Lisa Murkowski and Congressman Don Young. The pending federal legislation allows deserving veterans who served during the Vietnam era or their heirs to obtain allotments on vacant federal land within the State of Alaska.

The recognition ceremony took place at the Speakers Chambers in the State Capitol and included co-sponsor Representative Bill Thomas, Zack Brink, AVCP Vice President, Carol Yeatman, Supervising Attorney of the Native Allotment Program of Alaska Legal Services, Bill Martin, Central Council 1st Vice President, and members of the Alaska Tribal Working Group.

###

Media Contact:
Jodi Wolf – CCTHITA Publications
9097 Glacier Highway, Ste. 206
Juneau, AK 99801
Tel. 907/463-7123