Susan Butcher Day

Published February 26, 2007

Sometimes, it seems, elected officials can take the simplest of ideas and turn them into complex issues. A small proposal can suddenly become laden with great debate about its propriety, with the debate itself running off into the tangents of time.

Such is the case, unfortunately, with a bill to establish Susan Butcher Day, an annual day on the first Saturday of every March to honor the memory of the late Iditarod icon, who died of leukemia last year.

House Bill 37, by Rep. David Guttenberg, D-Fairbanks, passed the House rapidly but has run into the reluctant arms of Sen. Charlie Huggins, chairman of the Senate committee hearing the bill.

Sen. Huggins, Republican of Wasilla — home of the Iditarod restart, mind you — suggested his committee might support a onetime honoring of Ms. Butcher. “You can’t name every day after someone,” he said.

No, but Susan Butcher was no everyday person.

The bill that Sen. Huggins objects to details the attributes that most of us already know about this remarkable woman: “a loving mother, devoted wife, world-class athlete, determined competitor, true Alaskan, and four-time Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race champion.”

Denoting the special day, the bill says, would provide the opportunity for people to “remember the life of Susan Butcher, an inspiration to Alaskans and to millions around the world.”

Sounds like a fine idea and one worthy of an annual recognition.

Sen. Huggins, despite his reticence on the topic, is correct in wanting to be cautious about establishing days of honor. We just hope he changes his view.

Susan Butcher’s memory clearly qualifies for a state-sanctioned day of honor. Aside from the qualities laid out in the bill, Ms. Butcher — through her accomplishments and her accompanying gracious personality and nearly ever-present smile for the media — raised interest not only in the then-young Iditarod but also in Alaska. The state today is surely reaping the benefits of the national and international attention she brought north.

It would be wonderful for Alaska, for the sport of dog mushing, and for the family of Ms. Butcher if the Legislature would approve the day of honor before the start of Iditarod XXXV on Saturday.

Susan Butcher embraced Alaska. Now it’s time for Alaska to embrace her memory for all time.