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Omar Sutherland stays in Fairbanks because of the community’s support of the military.

Sutherland, 19, was born in California, but he came to Fort Wainwright in 2005 when his father, Staff Sgt. Stephen J. Sutherland was stationed here with the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

The elder Sutherland was among the 26 soldiers killed during the brigade’s deployment when his Stryker vehicle flipped in November 2005.

“When my dad passed away, I never thought I could continue to live in an Army base community,” Omar told a crowd of hundreds of Fort Wainwright troops and Fairbanks business owners Tuesday afternoon. “I thought that it would be too hard to see soldiers deployed and coming back from Iraq.”

What Omar found, however, was incredible support from his friends and teachers at North Pole High School. He recounted how they would give him all the time he needed outside of class to meet with counselors.

Instead of leaving Fairbanks, Omar decided to stay, and he just completed his first year at the University of Alaska Fairbanks where he is majoring in criminal justice.

“My dad absolutely loved it here, and so do I,” he said, wiping away tears. “I feel a huge part of his spirit here when I am in the house or just hunting and fishing.”

In recognition of the relationship between the Fairbanks community and the thousands of men and women stationed here, representatives from the state and borough, as well as the Army and Omar signed the Army Community Covenant on Tuesday at the Carlson Center.

Hundreds of soldiers and local business owners attended the signing, which took place after the weekly meeting of the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce. Chamber officials have expressed interest in keeping as many military families in the Interior as possible during the deployment.

This year, the Army and local communities are signing such covenants in all 50 states as a sign of support for upcoming deployments. This fall, the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Stryker Brigade Combat Team, made up of many soldiers from the 172nd, is scheduled to deploy to Iraq for a 12-month tour of duty. It will be the largest military deployment in the history of Alaska.

“We’re going to sign this covenant, but frankly you’ve been living this covenant since we put the Army here,” said Gen. Richard Cody, the current vice chief of staff of the Army.

The general called the military support in Fairbanks “very special,” and reiterated the importance of continuing to fight the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, both of which have lasted longer than World War II.

“I don’t know when else in our history when so much has been asked of so few for so long,” he said.

Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Jim Whitaker signed the covenant on behalf of mayors in the Interior.

“We do not refer to you as the military community,” he told the predominantly Army crowd. “We do not see a separation between you and us. You are a part of our community.”

Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell, attending on behalf of the governor who is busy with the special legislative session in Juneau, echoed those sentiments.

“We value you as people, as Alaskans, and we honor you as America’s soldiers,” he said.

But what matters most of all to a soldier, Cody said, is just an occasional thank you from someone they meet on the street.

“The car and love and compassion from local communities gives soldiers a combat multiplier all by itself,” he said.