Don Young Day

Don Young Day is a day of recognition in the state of Alaska, observed annually on June 9, commemorating Don Young, who served as a member of Alaska's at-large congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1973 until his death in 2022, making him the longest-serving Republican member of Congress in U.S. history.

History
Don Young was first elected to Congress in a 1973 special election to fill the seat of Representative Nick Begich, who had been presumed dead following his disappearance in a 1972 plane crash. Young would go on to be re-elected to 24 full terms, becoming the Dean of the House in December 2017. He died in office on March 18, 2022, while flying from Los Angeles to Seattle on his way back to Alaska.

On March 18, 2023, the one year anniversary of Young's death, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy issued a proclamation declaring that day to be Don Young Day, encouraging "all Alaskans to celebrate and honor the contributions of Congressman Don Young through his lifetime of service to the State of Alaska and to the United States of America." On March 27, State Representative Craig Johnson introduced House Bill 141, to commomorate Don Young Day each year on June 9, Young's birthday. The bill passed the House and Senate, respectively, on April 20 and May 16, and was signed into law by Governor Dunleavy on August 26. Rather than create a new public holiday, the bill establishes Don Young Day to "be observed by suitable observances and exercises by civil groups and the public."