On Friday at noon the Lt. George Farragut Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution are hosting a Vietnam Veterans Day commemoration at the veterans plaza at McEuen Park to honor those who served and their families and friends.

Also on Friday a celebration of a love story a half century in the making, with its beginnings in that far away combat zone, will take place when Jack and Ton Heston renew their wedding vows, surrounded by their three daughters, three sons-in-law and eight grandchildren.

The Hestons met and fell in love in Vietnam when Jack served in the Army from 1965-69. Ton left her family in Vietnam to come to America and build a family with the love of her life. It was not an easy time for returning Vietnam veterans in that era and certainly not for a Vietnam veteran who married a Vietnamese woman. But love has conquered all for the past 50 years.

Oldest daughter Elaine Heston Damschen, conceived in Vietnam, was born in Spokane and the Hestons, including her younger sisters Anna and Lisa, through the years made their home in Post Falls.

As her parents prepare to celebrate their golden anniversary, Elaine is awed and inspired and rightfully so.

“My mom left all she knew for freedom and a life with my dad. She never saw her mother again, and she saw her father only twice,” she said. “Then there’s my dad ... he was spit on during his entry back into America, and he brought a woman and child into the U.S. whom had faces that represented the enemy.”

On Friday Jack for the first time will see his sweetheart in full wedding gown splendor, all 4-foot-8 of the most beautiful bride of all. For Jack and Ton, their families here and far away, we should all be so blessed with enduring love, and a belated welcome home to Jack. Happy anniversary. May your love continue to shine light on sacrifice and the power of the human spirit. God bless America and the Hestons!

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I’ve opined here many times about the generosity of our communities to support worthwhile causes over and over again. It really is incredible. Last Saturday Children’s Village broke its own fundraising record during its annual Spring Benefit at The Coeur d’Alene Resort.

An unknown common denominator for many of these charitable events that include an auction is a group of women who give of their time and expertise to facilitate the check in/check out of guests, freeing up the organizations’ volunteer base. They are led by Deb Wheeler, the Post Falls chamber’s operations manager, who learned auctions from the early days at the chamber when most auction registration was done with a hard copy spreadsheet. Since that time Deb has become proficient with the online auction program, Auctria, as have her fellow volunteers, Sherry Wallis, Mindy Hatcher, Amy Boni, Andrea Fulks, Kay Polland, Tonya Meyers and Carrie Adamovich.

It streamlines the process for the organization as well as the attendees. Live and silent auction winning bids and raffle ticket sales are entered in real time so long lines to check out and pay are a thing of the past. Deb generally donates about 20 hours of time total for each event, including the advance planning with the event organizer. There are usually four women working the registration desk on the night of the event for 5 to 7 hours.

Said Deb, “I don’t have the money to donate to these organizations that do so many wonderful things, but I do have the time and my time has value.”

That sentiment is shared by Sherry, Mindy and Amy, who manned the desk for the Children’s Village benefit.

“The best part is seeing our community engage with these worthy nonprofits whose missions are helping so many children, families and neighbors. The money raised is invaluable for the necessary and successful programs and services provided,” Sherry added.

In the past four years the 16 events for 11 local nonprofits the women have been involved with have raised a cumulative total of $1.52 million!

For anyone who thinks their gift of time or talent doesn’t make a difference, this Dream Team of local ladies has proven otherwise. Thanks sincerely to each of you.

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Things to Do: On Friday the Coeur d’Alene Library Foundation presents An Evening with Delia Owens, New York Times bestselling author of “Where the Crawdads Sing.” The event is 6:15 to 9 p.m. at the library and costs $30 per person.

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Happy Birthday today to Chet Lindquist, Lila Kimm, Theresa Hart, Jamie Green, Katherin Pope, Dan Dunham, Sharon Erickson (75!), Chris Magera, Susan Reynolds, Lynne Wiedemann, Alie Hotchkiss, Ralph Nelson, Irene Bowman and Julie Harris and tomorrow to Cindy Sweeney, Brandon Clearwaters, James Heilman, Barb Forgacs (75!), Robert Durflinger (60!), Richard Wegner, Chris Camarata and Page Hibbs.

Friday birthdays will be celebrated by Bob Koep, Mary Hawkins and Bo Gerzina. On Saturday Gloria Weidner, Tabetha Brisbin, Linda Schmidt, Bren Grace and Kathleen Perez (75!) put on their party hats. On Sunday Priscilla Baker, Rick Vernon, Annika Baltzell, Chris Jones, Joey Nowoj, Patrick Reagan, Shirley Christie, Crystal LaFountain, David Holloway and Chris Clayton will have their cake and eat it, too.

Taking another trip around the sun on April Fools Day are Ed Frazey (60!), Keri Schwenke, Martha Goose, Kim Haddock, Candi Applegate, Chris Thompson and Payton Peugh. On Tuesday Jonathan Owens, Judi Jackson, Dallan Pope, Taylor Huber, Kathy Willy, Beth Barclay, Nell Gordon and Lee Periman are blowing out the birthday candles.

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Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email mainstreet@cdapress.com. Follow her on Twitter @kerrithoreson.