A news crew from Georgia, a country between Turkey and Russia, was on the scene filming the Alaska Day celebrations. The piece aired across Georgian televisions on Sunday, Oct. 19th, prompting responses from McClear’s friends and colleagues. (KCAW photo/Rich McClear)
For most of Sitka, this year’s Alaska Day celebration is a pleasant memory. But for Rich McClear, its echo reverberated across the ocean.
I did not think people in Georgia – not the peach tree Georgia, but the country (the one that sits between Russia and Turkey) – cared much about Alaska Day.
But on Monday, I started getting Facebook messages from friends and colleagues in that Georgia. I have been going there for 10 years, working with local radio stations.
The messages included, “Sitka is Beautiful, a truly amazing place!” and “I love Sitka. I have a friend there!” That would be me.
The excitement was caused by a news spot on Rustavi 2 TV, a private broadcasting company in Georgia.
The full news spot, featuring the Alaska Day parade and interviews with locals, including Mayor Mim McConnell. (Rustavi TV)
The segment was hosted by David Nikuradze, Washington correspondent for Rustavi 2 TV in Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital. Nikuradze told Georgians how America was able to buy Alaska, full of gold and oil, for only 7 million dollars from Russia. His story shows Sitka complete with the shots of diving whales, soaring eagles and Mt. Edgecumbe, sights that are a part of almost every TV piece on Sitka.
But Georgians were also taken with the Russian Bishop’s house and St. Michael’s Cathedral. Georgia is a strongly Orthodox country and the report featured Sitka’s stewardship of its Orthodox treasures.
Viewers also got a glimpse Alaska Day fun, including the Costume Ball, and the parade featuring Keystone Kops in feather boas, belly dancers and a Chinese Dragon. But I wonder what they made of Captain SeaMart.
