Lynden gives bronze bears a lift to Alaska

From left, Phillip Thomas, Lynden Transport, Christine Cunningham, City of Kenai, artists from Atlas Bronze, and Kenai Mayor Henry Knackstedt.

The Kenai Bronze Bear Family Sculpture Project was unveiled last month at Kenai Municipal Airport. "A heartfelt thank you to Lynden for donating shipping services to bring the sculptures to Kenai," says Mary Bondurant, acting Kenai Airport Manager. The bears were sculpted at a foundry in Utah, and Lynden coordinated the shipping from Utah to Seattle, then trucked the sculptures up the Alcan Highway to Kenai. The crate containing mama bear was 8 feet long, 4 feet wide and 1,000 pounds, according to Lynden Transport Soldotna Service Center Manager Phillip Thomas, who attended the unveiling. Lynden Sr. Vice President and General Counsel Everett Billingslea had a personal connection to the project. His high school classmate Kenai Mayor Henry Knackstedt contacted him to see if Lynden might help transport the bears. "The in-kind donation was approved by Lynden and, when the bears were ready, we picked them up and delivered them. Henry and I have been buddies since high school, and were the best man at each other's weddings," Everett says. "This sculpture reflects our shared values, pride in place, strength for our community, and respect for our wildlife," Mayor Knackstedt explains.