RATHDRUM - When Chris Monroe had her photo taken with prisoner-of-war Fred McMurray in 1973, it changed her life forever.

Monroe was an 8-year-old Girl Scout in the Coeur d'Alene parade welcoming home Vietnam War veteran McMurray.

"My dad took our picture together, and I've had those photos all of these years," Monroe said.

The two became reacquainted Wednesday when the Freedom Tree in honor of McMurray and other veterans was dedicated at Betty Kiefer Elementary in Rathdrum.

Monroe, who has been a parent volunteer at Betty Kiefer for several years, is part of a family with deep military roots, but her memory of snapshots with McMurray inspired her to be even more patriotic.

"As I got older, I realized more what his sacrifice was and the reason for the parade," Monroe said. "I refer to him as 'my vet.' I've always wondered what happened to him."

Monroe found out last year when McMurray's name surfaced during planning for the new McEuen Park in downtown Coeur d'Alene. The Freedom Tree at the park site was named in his honor after the Air Force pilot was captured in 1972.

That Freedom Tree, a 65-foot Norwegian spruce, was cut down due to the construction of the new park. The removal drew outrage from some in the community.

However, another Freedom Tree, a 16-foot Colorado blue spruce, was recently planted at the park near the Veterans Memorial in honor of McMurray and other veterans.

The situation involving the former Coeur d'Alene Freedom Tree and the story behind Monroe and McMurray prompted Betty Kiefer Elementary fourth-grade teacher Shana Hostetler to have a Freedom Tree planted at the Rathdrum school. Monroe has been a volunteer in Hostetler's classes.

The idea took root last November when McMurray, a Coeur d'Alene resident, was a guest speaker at the school's Veterans Day ceremony.

"Chris is super patriotic and she volunteers a lot in schools and with Girl Scouts," Hostetler said of why she organized the project. "Those photos (with McMurray) inspired her to be more patriotic."

McMurray said he remembers taking a photo with a Girl Scout (Monroe) during the welcome home parade. The two said they plan to stay in touch from time to time.

"I don't want you to think that I'm stalking you," Monroe told McMurray with a slight laugh before the parade.

McMurray replied, "I wouldn't want you to think that, Chris."

Local businesses jumped on the Freedom Tree idea at the school. Taylor Made Landscaping donated the alpine fir, benches and other materials to create the plaza. Golden Spike Estates provided funding for the project, while North Idaho Concepts contributed cedar planting boxes.

"As the community has planned this celebration, it has taken on a life of its own," Hostetler said. "Future plans include a Freedom Garden, where our students can learn the importance of plants, agriculture and gardening."

McMurray called the site "absolutely wonderful."

"This means so much to me and other veterans," McMurray said. "I'm truly honored and humbled. To my fellow veterans, I sincerely thank them for all they've done."

McMurray said that, looking back, he has mixed feelings about the Coeur d'Alene Freedom Tree ordeal.

"Of course I was sad because it meant a lot to me," McMurray said.

But he said the city was sympathetic to the situation, and will give him mementos made of wood from the original Freedom Tree, and he has been invited to participate in a ceremony for the new tree in honor of himself and other vets.

McMurray asked the crowd at Betty Kiefer - which included representatives from the Northern Lakes Fire District, Rathdrum Police, Combat Vet Riders, students wearing patriotic colors and others - to remember U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, an Idaho soldier who has remained in captivity in Afghanistan since June 30, 2009.

Wade Spiker of Golden Spike Estates said the freedom plaza will serve as a learning tool at the school for years to come.

"At a very young age, kids will learn the unbelievable sacrifices of the veterans of our country," Spiker said. "This is a visual reminder of why we have the freedoms we have."