COEUR d'ALENE — Jim Shepperd's white-gloved hands wielded a heavy hammer to ring the Veterans Bell in McEuen Park 11 times.

More than 70 people stood silently in the misty Veterans Plaza, listening as the 90-year-old Navy veteran who served in World War II hammered the bell in honor of the service and sacrifice of America's veterans. Prior to Friday's ceremony, Shepperd — who helped bring the donated bell to the city in the 1950s — had rung the bell 11 times each Veterans Day for 47 years.

Until last week, though, it was uncertain whether one of the few remaining members of the Greatest Generation would be able to ring the bell for the 48th time because of accidental damage that had left it shattered.

"If we couldn't do anything else we would have at least taken the hammer and put it up there and saluted that," Shepperd said with a smile following the ceremony, adding that he was happy the bell was repaired before Veterans Day.

"I've done it all these years. It's just the thing I want to do."

American Legion Post 14 hosted the Veterans Day ceremony, which featured a prayer and presentation of the colors from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 889. Third, fourth and fifth graders from Nancy Mueller's music class at Winton Elementary School sang five patriotic songs, including "God Bless America" and "God Bless the USA," during the event as well.

Jacques Croom, an Army veteran who lives in Coeur d'Alene, was once again tapped to speak at the ceremony. He opened with a brief history of Veterans Day which, up until 1954, was known as Armistice Day. The original day of remembrance, he said, commemorated the end of World War I at 11:11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918.

"It was renamed Veterans Day to honor all of our veterans — regardless of the war or action in which they were involved," Croom said.

When Croom moved to Coeur d'Alene from the nation's capital four years ago, he said that although he was honored to be involved, he found it odd that there would be a flag raising ceremony at a brand new Red Lobster. But, as Croom began further exploring the town, he said he began seeing flags everywhere — on homes, churches, and at schools.

"When I told my friends back in the D.C. area about all this, they found it hard to believe," Croom said, adding that many homeowners associations in D.C. prohibit the placing of flags.

"Am I proud to be part of this out here in the real America?" Croom asked. "You better believe it."

Croom, who has spoken twice before at the Veterans Day ceremony in McEuen, referenced his remarks in 2015, when he was highly critical of the Veterans Administration for what he called the "shameful state of veterans care in this county." Not much has changed in the last year, Croom added, and he encouraged attendees to give politicians a reminder whenever they speak of the high costs of caring for our veterans — the high cost of being a veteran.

"It is a high cost — blood, sweat and sacrifice — but a high cost that has produced the greatest nation on Earth," he added.

After thanking every veteran in attendance for their service and sacrifice, Croom thanked those in the audience who have not served for caring enough to spend time with veterans. Croom encouraged attendees to give a thumbs up and "Thank You" to any veterans they might encounter in their day-to-day lives.

"I realize Veterans Day is not a holiday, like Memorial Day or Thanksgiving, and that people don't get the day off. That is what makes your being here today more meaningful to us," Croom said. "Thank you all for your interest and attention. Sleep well tonight in a country made safe by many generations of American veterans. God bless them and God bless America."