Thousands of people turned out in Anchorage, Alaska, for a farewell picnic for Gov. Sarah Palin, observers said.

Palin Saturday served up salmon burgers and shook hands at the picnic, one of three farewell parties for Palin, who stunned Alaskans earlier this month when she announced she would resign and hand her job to Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell, a close ally.

"I hope to get to shake as many hands as possible and tell you from the bottom of my heart how much I thank you and love you and I say God bless Alaska, God bless America, thank you," Palin said in a brief speech to those munch on free food in Anchorage, The Anchorage Daily News reported Sunday.

Farewell picnics also took place in Fairbanks and Wasilla, Palin's hometown.

Many Palin backers at the Anchorage picnic said they were sorry to see her go.

"She's hard working, trying to do her best, and took a lot of bullets from the press that I think are completely unjustified," said Eagle River resident Lora Reinhold.

Other attendees were not as complimentary, the Daily News said.

Anchorage resident L.B. Abbey called Palin a "moron" and said the governor embarrassed Alaskans by resigning 16 months before the end of her term.