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Photos: President Obama arrives in Anchorage

Air Force One landed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Monday afternoon to cheers from roughly 180 people assembled.

Obama departed Air Force One at 1:45 p.m. with Alaska Gov. Bill Walker, who had flown with the president from Washington, D.C.

U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, was first in line to shake the president's hand, followed by others including Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz and Alaska first lady Donna Walker.

Walker hugged Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott, who was second in line to greet the president and wearing a traditional vest.

The crowd cheered as Obama walked over to meet others.

"Hey, how's it going everybody?" the president said. "It's beautiful today. Thank you so much, it's wonderful to be here. Thank you, it's great to be here,"

He gave a high-five to a small boy in the crowd

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Poldine Carlo, 94, was there to greet the president and sang a song about Denali, out of excitement for the just-announced name change for America's highest peak. Carlo said she had the same feeling watching Obama land as when the pope visited Fairbanks in 1984.

A motorcade of about 20 vehicles was on the move by 1:55 p.m. and arrived at the Hotel Captain Cook in downtown Anchorage at 2:04 p.m.

Read more: Live blog: President Obama's visit to Alaska

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