Alaska Man Monday: A Great Alaska Youth, a Bell, and a Sad Tale From Denali

Spring is finally here in the Great Land, and that means fishing. I have promised myself some more fishing outings this year, so watch the upcoming Alaska Man Monday video segments on that.

Moving right along, this is cool: An Anchorage teenager has raised almost $25,000 in donations to purchase a memorial bell to be rung during memorial services for any officer of the law who fell while on the job. That’s enough to give one some hope for the upcoming generation, isn’t it?

A new bell rang last week during the annual Alaska Peace Officers Memorial Ceremony and will now have a permanent spot at the Alaska Law Enforcement Officer Memorial, thanks to an Anchorage teenager.
“This bell is in honor of all law enforcement who have given the ultimate sacrifice, their lives, to protect and serve,” said Diane Peterson, the Alaska police and fire chief chaplain, during the ceremony on May 20.
“This year, we are very grateful to present a beautiful bell monument. This project was taken on by my granddaughter, Ce’nna.”
Since May 2025, 16-year-old Ce’nna Peterson-Robertson has raised nearly $25,000 for a new bell to be placed at the Alaska Law Enforcement Officer Memorial. Peterson-Robertson told Alaska’s News Source she received donations from the chaplaincy board, individual police officers and the Anchorage Police Department.
Peterson-Robertson said she was inspired by her grandmother, who raised her to make a difference in the community.
The idea for the bell, Peterson-Robertson said, stemmed after she realized they were scrambling year after year to find a bell to be used during the memorial services.

We spend so much time and spill so much digital ink on bad cops that we sometimes neglect the good ones; and when a cop, firefighter, or any first responder falls in the line of duty, they deserve for us to take a moment to remember them. Ce’nna Peterson-Robertson clearly understands this.

Alaska Man score: All five moose nuggets, no doubt about it.

Now then; Denali, being the highest mountain in North America, attracts its share of climbers. And, inevitably, climbing mountains being what it is, some parties fall on disaster. That is, sadly, what happened to four climbers from Latvia, who attempted America’s highest peak.

Three climbers lost their lives this week after falling on the upper slopes of North America’s tallest peak, according to an international mountaineering group.
A statement released by the Latvian Mountaineering Association reported that three climbers died on Mt. McKinley (formerly recognized as Denali).
A response from Denali National Park & Preserve officials stated that the search and rescue mission had turned into a recovery effort.
The climbers who died were identified by the Latvian group as:
Inese Pučeka
Vija Olte
Renārs Kunigs-Salaks
A fourth climber who also fell — identified by the Latvian group as Mārtiņš Bilzēns — was reported to be in “critical” condition, according to the mountaineering group. Denali park officials said that person was rescued from a basin at 17,200 feet at about 4 p.m. Thursday.

This is, clearly, a terrible thing, but it should serve as a reminder: Wild places, mountains, deserts, rivers, the sea – they will try to kill you if your attention lapses for even a moment – and sometimes when it does. Our condolences to the families and to the Latvian Mountaineering Association.

Alaska Man score: No score. Not for a tragedy like this.

Now, let’s talk about foundations.

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