Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at [email protected].

"To all of you who have supported The Alaska Stand over the years, thank you. You have shared your summers, your stories, and your smiles with us, and we carry those moments in our hearts.

The largest state in the union, Alaska boasts a wealth of natural resources, rich in oil, fish, minerals, and beautiful scenery. When The United States bought Alaska from Russia in 1867 ...