Alaska Star - Hero Games celebrates strength and sense of humor 07/09/09

Story Last modified at 11:35 a.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2009

Hero Games celebrates strength and sense of humor

By JILL FANKHAUSER
Alaska Star

Alaskans enjoyed friendly but fierce competition between soldiers, police officers and firemen during the first inaugural Hero Games in Anchorage June 27.

The Anchorage Downtown Partnership joined forces with first responders and military personnel to show off skill, agility, strength, speed and a sense of humor to the public during the 50th anniversary of statehood celebration on Fourth Avenue in Anchorage.

Teams competed in water balloon volleyball, a rescue-the-cat ladder climb, a bucket brigade, an obstacle course and a litter relay by carrying a dummy on a stretcher.

Participants were spread among 12 teams, which represented the Anchorage Police Department, Anchorage Fire Department, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Air Force, Air Force Reserve, U.S. Army, Alaska Army National Guard, Alaska Air National Guard, Alaska Medical Support and Airport Fire and Police.

This article published in The Alaska Star on Thursday, July 9, 2009.