Memorial Day 2025

 

I am eternally grateful to those who have given their lives for the cause of liberty and progress. Names that immediately come to mind are Worth H. Bagley, an N.C. native who is the only American naval Officer to die in the Spanish-American War; Charles F. Putnam, who on or around 10 January 1882, died a lonely death in the Bering Sea after saving his companions who were searching for the USS Jeanette; however, today and every day, I think about the patriots who gave the last full measure of devotion for a nation that generally thought them unworthy of the privilege to do so. Remembering the dead is a painful thing to do - especially when their lives were cut short by the scythe of conflict and conquest. However, it is a solemn duty that we must practice.

The Missing: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

 

 This is the final post of the week for my series, titled “The Missing.” If we are talking about the missing, the we must mention the plight of our indigenous sisters in the United States. Indigenous women are facing an epidemic of violence. 84% of American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence in their lifetime. I stand in solidarity with those who have been directly or indirectly affected by this tragic trend.

Read more here.

The Missing: Philip Fraser

 

On June 14th, 1988, Philip Fraser left his home in Anchorage, Alaska to check in for his pre-med program at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. On June 17th, he crossed into Canada at a lonely border crossing deep in the mountains of the Yukon Territory at Beaver Creek. When Canadian authorities working at the border asked if he had any weapons on him, he replied that he had two guns…while they are a way of life in both the U.S. and Canada, it is still illegal to cross both borders with weapons. They were confiscated.

On June 18th, he was on his way into Canada. 600 miles and one day later, he pulled into a cafe in Forty Mile Flat, B.C. Unbeknownst to him, a hitchhiker had been dropped off by another vehicle. 

The stranger gave off creepy vibes to the mother/daughter team working the cafe, and he eventually talked his way into Philip’s car. Both mother and daughter in the cafe observed that this would come back to haunt Philip. The hitchhiker would be found stranded with his car 200 miles south in Kitwanga, B.C. by Eddie Olson.  

The hitchhiker spun a yarn about being on the way to medical school and having car trouble. When the Samaritan lent him a basement couch for the night, the hitchhiker secretly pulled out two wallets to pay for the help. 300 miles from the Olson home, the car was found on fire in a Prince George’s, B.C. Car wash. 6 weeks and only 70 miles from the Olson home, Philip’s remains were found by a hiker.

Philip Innes Fraser of Anchorage, Alaska was killed by an unknown person at the age of 25. Canadian authorities believe that the hitchhiker that he picked up was the culprit. No suspect has ever been identified. The three composite sketches of the potential assailant are in this post. The case remains unsolved. If you or anyone you know have any credible information, please contact the Royal Canadian Mounted Police at +1 613-993-7267.