Quote from Pioneer on July 2, 2011, 6:36 pm

Organized in 1956 via the efforts of Mrs. Mary Hale (who passed in 2007 in Grand Junction, CO), this music festival consisted of concerts and recitals in Anchorage with over 7,000 attending. The festival lives on as the "Anchorage Music Festival" (www.anchoragefestivalmusic.com). Official Medals (2,500 bronze unlooped, 5,000 bronze looped, and 300 silver) were made by the Herff Jones Co if Indianapolis, still in existence today (www.herffjones.com). This company is also known for making the congressional medal of honor. Mrs. Hale (born Mary Helen Parker in 1920) was a talented musician (graduate of Louisiana College). She was married to Dr. George Hale for 57 years, who she supported though medical school and US Navy Service. They moved to Alaska in 1949 (to be involved in the Alaska Railroad construction) and Mrs. Hale taught music in Anchorage. She was a charter member of the Alaska State Council on the Arts and recieved an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts in 1965 from the University of Alaska. Hundreds of photographs and details about this festival are stored in the university library at the University of Alaska, Anchorage, for those who want to do more research on this festival and medal. A photo is attached of Mrs. Hale teaching music.