Vice President Biden to speak at Stevens service Wednesday

Biden, a former Democratic U.S. senator from Delaware, knew the Alaska Republican for decades.

"Jill and I had genuine affection for Ted," Biden said after Stevens died in a plane crash north of Dillingham last week. "As senators, he and I bonded over shared similar family tragedies, but we also celebrated life's great moments together too, like the births of our daughters a few days apart. We served together for more than 30 years, but more than that, he was my friend, and I will miss him."

Biden's first wife and baby daughter died in a car accident a month after he was elected to the Senate in 1972. Stevens' first wife, Ann, died in a 1978 plane crash.

The 2 p.m. Anchorage Baptist Temple service Wednesday and a reception following at the church are both open to the public. Biden's presence will mean Secret Service and heavy security at the event, expected to also include several others who served with Stevens.

Hawaii Democratic Sen. Daniel Inouye is one of those expected to attend, according to Anchorage Baptist Temple Pastor Jerry Prevo. Inouye and Stevens were particularly close, and his response to Stevens' death was "I have lost my brother."

KTUU Channel 2 in Anchorage will air the memorial live. So will GCI cable channel 1. People who live in rural communities outside the GCI cable subscription areas will be able to watch the service on ARCS or the 360 North channel.

There won't be general public parking available at the Baptist Temple for Wednesday's memorial service. People are advised to park between Lowe's and Kohl's at the Tikahtnu Commons mall at North Muldoon Road and the Glenn Highway.

There will be shuttle buses running to the memorial service from there. The buses will be leaving for Anchorage Baptist Temple between noon and about 1:30 p.m.

Some limited parking will be available at the Baptist temple parking lot to accommodate the disabled. Vehicles should have handicapped parking stickers.

Three days of remembrances of Stevens began Monday, when several hundred people attended a Catholic Mass for Stevens at Anchorage's Holy Family Cathedral. Memorials were also held at the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage Monday for GCI executive Dana Tindall and her 16-year-old daughter, Corey. They died with Stevens and two others in the crash.

Stevens will be lying in repose at All Saints Episcopal Church in downtown Anchorage today and the public is invited to come by and pay respects between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. The church is at 545 W. Eighth Ave. The public may park in the Linny Pacillo Parking Garage, 517 W. Seventh Ave.

At 8 p.m. today, a motorcade will take Stevens to the Anchorage Baptist Temple.

Organizers invite the public to line the procession route. The motorcade will go west on Eighth Avenue to L Street, remain on L Street as it becomes Minnesota Boulevard, turn left on Benson Boulevard and take Benson/Northern Lights Boulevard to the Anchorage Baptist Temple. The Baptist Temple is at 6401 E. Northern Lights.