Updated: August 20, 2019 Published: August 16, 2019
Hundreds of people gathered Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019 during a celebration of life for Chris Birch at Hilltop Ski Area. Birch, who died Aug. 7, was a state senator and former state representative and Anchorage assemblyman. (Loren Holmes / ADN)
Hundreds of people gathered Thursday at Hilltop Ski Area to remember Chris Birch, a longtime Anchorage Assembly member who was elected to the Legislature in 2016. Birch, a Republican who was in his first term as a state senator, died Aug. 7. Those in attendance spanned the political spectrum, and included Gov. Mike Dunleavy, who presented Birch’s wife, Pam, with a flag that had flown above the state Capitol.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy presents a flag that had flown over the state capitol to Pam Birch on Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019 during a celebration of life for Pam's husband Chris Birch at Hilltop Ski Area. (Loren Holmes / ADN)
Ian White and Rep. Jennifer Johnston play the bagpipes Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019 during a celebration of life for Chris Birch at Hilltop Ski Area. (Loren Holmes / ADN)
Rep. Chuck Kopp speaks Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019 during a celebration of life for Chris Birch at Hilltop Ski Area. (Loren Holmes / ADN)
:quality(70)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-adn.s3.amazonaws.com/public/WFT5EWDJJNHIBGKNUGEROMKNQI.jpg)
:quality(70)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-adn.s3.amazonaws.com/public/DW4RZQ2ONFCLTOLCLBMRVJZD7Y.jpg)
:quality(70)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-adn.s3.amazonaws.com/public/TYVRZ6GQPVCKPNLGV5BADNSD6M.jpg)
:quality(70)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-adn.s3.amazonaws.com/public/ZFMIQGNSIZEBFBCCGTK5HPBZU4.jpg)