COEUR d'ALENE - No one is more fitting to lead a hero's parade than a survivor who has helped thousands of lives in Kootenai County.

Which is why Lidwina Dirne, the former school teacher who fled Nazi-occupied Netherlands in the 1940s and later founded Dirne Community Health Center in Kootenai County, will ride as grand marshal for the Fourth of July American Heroes Parade, the Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce announced Thursday.

"Her life is full of examples of her strength and commitment to serving others," Chamber CEO Todd Christensen said in a press release. "Her personal motto is: 'I live to serve others.'"

It was only after Dirne left her war-torn homeland and was working in a mission in Canada that she came across Kootenai County. She was on her way to Oregon where she had heard there were employment opportunities when, on a stopover in Liberty Lake, locals invited her to an informal community meeting.

It's there Dirne learned of people's need for help, and her life dedicated to service in Kootenai County became set.

"She sees needs in the community and is the kind of person that reaches out to help," said Ann Smart, Dirne's longtime friend.

In 1984 Dirne met Maryellen, a single mother working to provide for her family. Maryellen developed a chronic medical condition and couldn't afford the time or money to see a physician.

With Sandy Mamola and Peggy Irving, Dirne cared for Maryellen, which eventually led to the establishment of the Dirne Center, the nonprofit community health center that provides medical care for those in need.

Now into her 90s, Dirne continues to attend board meetings and shares her soft courage and appreciation to the staff at meetings, Christensen said.

In accepting the nomination, Dirne recognized the many great supporters with whom she has worked. And as grand marshal of the hero's parade, she also wished to honor Jacqes Dirne, her older brother, who was in the Dutch Army when Germany attacked on May 10, 1940.

After his rescue by English forces, he took part in the multinational Normandy Beach invasion.

"It was our mother's prayer that saved him," Dirne said. "He survived all that, and never - not once - has ever spoken of it to me."

The parade begins at 11 a.m. July 4, traveling down Sherman Avenue.