REUNION: It's on; apology requested

The Wednesday morning edition of the Coeur d'Alene Press has a letter to the editor so full of errors, misinformation and a serious misconception about the Park Ranger Staff at Farragut State Park as to require a rebuttal. I am the volunteer coordinator for the annual Farragut Reunions held the Saturday after Labor Day every year. I have volunteered to do this, along with Bob Moore of Bayview. We work very hard all year, along with the Park Staff to put on a celebration honoring all those who served their country during World War II who did their Boot Camp at Farragut. Last year we included all World War II Navy veterans as well, and this year have invited all military members who were in service during that time to join with us at the reunion Saturday, Sept 10.

As to one not knowing about these reunions, the Coeur d'Alene Press has always printed a Page 1 story complete with photographs on the front page of the Sunday Edition following the reunion regarding those in attendance, the brig museum, the flag raising ceremony and the day long renewal of old friends at the Sunrise Shelters. This year, we paid to advertise the gathering in the reunion section of the paper. Hard to not know about them.

As to being told by someone that it was too much "bother," etc. I am left to wonder just who it was she talked to. Surely not one of the Ranger Staff who work very hard all year long to make the reunions the wonderful events they always are. They post the flyers about the reunion on the bulletin board outside the Visitors Center and have them for the taking inside. As to the mention of reunions being held at the "barracks where previous reunions were held," the barracks were torn down more than 50 years ago - no reunions have ever been held there. Another bit of misinformation.

As to respect for these veterans, you might want to know we have a couple from the Chicago area, Bob and Pat Wood, who come every year at their own expense to help with the reunion, Warren Mitchell, a professional photographer from Beaverton, Ore., who volunteers his services to film them. In addition to the volunteer committee chairman Bob Moore and his wife Jean, we have the good ladies of Bayview who annually make homemade cookies for the gathering. Ron McIntire, owner of Super 1 Foods shows his thanks by providing the breakfast rolls every year and loaning us one of his huge store flags for unfurling at the opening ceremony.

I have been fortunate enough to have attended every reunion for the past 15 years and when it looked as if they might be discontinued as the previous coordinators, who were veterans, were feeling the effects of their advancing years, I volunteered to keep coordinating the event - my way of showing respect and thanks to these fine men.

The men are shown great respect, gratitude, honor and thanks for their service to the country in their wartime sacrifice. I invite anyone who would also like to show their thanks to them, to join us for the flag raising ceremony at the newly remodeled Brig Plaza in front of the fabulous museum at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 10. It will bring tears to your eyes, I can assure you.

You owe all of us who work very hard on behalf of our veterans a big apology, Terri Doughty.

JANICE LAUER

Farragut Reunion Coordinator

Coeur d'Alene