THANKS: Wreaths laid on veterans graves

The Coeur d’Alene Kiwanis Club would like to thank everyone who participated in National Wreaths Across America Day on Dec. 14. This is our second year to lay wreaths on veterans graves at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens. This year we laid more than 1,000 wreaths with more than 100 volunteers. We laid the wreaths in conjunction with more than 2,100 cemeteries and more than 2 million wreaths.

We lay seven ceremonial wreaths to honor each branch of service. We would like to thank E5 James McAnulty, U.S. Army, Cpl. Jim Ferguson, U.S. Marine Corps, Corpsman Kevin Glenn, U.S. Navy, Airman Robert Davis, U.S. Air Force, 3rd Class Petty Officer David Humlicek, U.S. Coast Guard, Michael Bibin for honoring our POWs and MIAs and Theresa Hart for laying the wreaths for all Gold Star families.

We would like to thank the following people who participated in our program, The Multi Agency Honor Guard lead by Trooper Cody Ercanbrack, Idaho State Police. Honor Guard members were Trooper Michael Archer, Idaho State Police, Officer Scott Harmon, Post Falls Police Department, Deputy Chris Fresh, Kootenai County Sheriff Department and Ashley Caiasa, and the Coeur d’Alene Police Department. Mayor Steve Widmyer, The Lake City Choir, The Patriot Guard, The Combat Vet Riders and Trumpeter Jesse Harlan for blowing Taps. Thank you to Tom Pool who served as MC.

We could not have done this without all of the donations to purchase the wreaths. We would like to thank the following organizations and people who donated. Northwest Specialty Hospital, Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 486, Wells Fargo Bank, Idaho Independent Bank, Ginno Construction, Alpha Services, Disabled American Veterans, Steve Halliday Allstate Insurance, Adams Trimworks Pat and Patti Adams, Dalton Gardens Church of Christ, Michael Lewis, NI Title, Katie Bane, Embroidered Corporate Images, Post Falls Kiwanis, Paul Henderson, Coeur d Alene Elks Lodge 1254, Autumn Bowman, Jessica Stevens, Mrs. John Mitchell, Jim and Jerre Coleman, Eric and Renee Fisher Wendy Wegner, Lavonne Vinson, Kevin Casey, Freda Campbell, Jessica Letus, Angela Erickson, Bethann Matousek, Kim Cummings, Jim DeShazer, Marty Behm, Carolyn Jorgensen, Shaun Woolley, Coco Jensen, Michelle Gonzales, and Richard and Jill Jurvelin.

A huge thank you to Don and Tabitha from Prime, Inc. Trucking Co. for driving all night to make sure our wreaths were here on time so we could have our ceremony.

We will be laying wreaths again on Dec. 19, 2020. If you are interested in donating to purchase wreaths, please use this link wreathsacrossamerica.org/ID0014. Wreaths are $15 apiece and if you have a loved one buried at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens, we encourage you to come and place the wreath yourself.

KATHY BUSH

Club Secretary