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Alaska Governor Sarah Palin & Family Visit Auburn
 The city was decked out in its best for its first Founders Day, June 6th, as thousands of people gathered along the parade route and outside Auburn's City Hall to enjoy a family outing and get a glimpse of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the guest of honor for this year's 50th anniversary of Alaskan statehood. Palin and her husband, Todd, walked part of the parade route. When the parade was over, Palin joined local and state officials for public remarks.
“The state of Alaska and the city of Auburn have a lot in common,” Sarah Palin told the crowd at City Hall. During two public addresses Saturday, the former Republican vice-presidential candidate told Auburnians and out-of-town guests that she is impressed with the Cayuga County city. Palin invoked the names of Auburn residents of the present and past - especially William Seward - to show links to her own state, while making some political statements in the process.
In addition to Seward, she mentioned Harriet Tubman, as examples of this area's historical significance.
“(Seward) was ridiculed for recognizing what Alaska has to offer,” Palin said. “He took a path that wasn't necessarily real easy, but it was the right path.” Palin continued “…It's amazing. It was providential, all those years ago, that we would have this connection.”
Palin also mentioned local native Meghan Stapleton, who is now one of her media coordinators, as an example of the “integrity and work ethic” that seems apparent in Auburnians. “There is something in the water here,” Palin said. “I told Willow (her daughter), before we leave, drink it up.”
Later, Palin spoke to a smaller crowd at Seward House, where a fundraiser for the museum was taking place. Seward House Executive Director Peter Wisbey presented Palin with a replica of a sketch that Seward owned, of a picturesque Alaskan coastline. She will also take home a New York state flag and an Auburn Icehawks hockey jersey with her name on the back.
Palin was also given a print of a famous painting depicting the purchase of the Alaskan territories, which she used for an opportunity to poke fun at herself. In the painting, Russian and American dignitaries - including Seward - are signing a treaty and pointing to Alaska on a globe.
“I'll betcha anything, what Seward was pointing out is, 'Lookie there. You can see Russia from here,'” Palin said, mocking a similar reference she made that generated ridicule during the presidential campaign last year.
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