On Tuesday, March 12, 2002, I saw Musher Martin Buser slide across the finish line to win Alaska's 30th annual Iditarod sled dog race. His funds to fuel his bid for the finish line came from a well-known manufacturer of dog and cat foods. He and his fourlegged athletes were the first team to cross the finish line in the 1,100-mile annual race from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska. This was the 4th victory for Buser who completed the race in 8days, 22 hours and 46 minutes, setting a new record.

Shown at left with one of his lead dogs, Buser, the son of a Swiss doctor, came to the U.S. in 1979, specifically to gain mushing experience. He liked it so much he stayed. After he reached the finish line in Nome, he will be made an American citizen. His wife and both children will join Martin on this joyous occasion. Wearing a red, white and blue striped shirt and with tears welling in his bloodshot eyes, Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race champ Martin Buser finalized his application for American citizenship on Wednesday afternoon by taking the oath of allegiance to the United States of America.

The ceremony came one day after the Swiss-born musher from Big Lake and his team of huskies set a record of just under nine days for the 1,100-mile race across the Alaska wilderness from Anchorage to the Bering Sea. Some were left to wonder how many magical memories could one man have? When it's Iditarod season and your name is Buser, apparently you can average one a day.

"Why shouldn't I win the Iditarod and be naturalized under the burled arch?" a grinning Buser asked. "Why shouldn't it come true?"

Buser, the 44-year-old musher, shown right helping the lead dog of one of his competitors cross the finish line on Front Street, in Nome, completed the naturalization process in a ceremony that brought friends, family and nearly 300 witnessing spectators -- including old-time Antarctic explorer Col. Norman Vaughan -- together to crowd the Iditarod finish area on Front Street.

CONGRATULATIONS MARTIN AND THANKS FOR THE THRILL RIDE!