Standing strong, together
BILL BULEY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 1 month AGO
Charles Riffel rings the bell at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at McEuen Park during a Veterans Day ceremony on Thursday.
File photo by Bill Buley
Alice Brown thanks veterans for their service during the Veterans Day ceremony at McEuen Park.
Veteran Joe Kaczmar listens to a speaker during the Veterans Day Ceremony at McEuen Park.
Veteran Robert Banta Sr., with granddaughter Stephanie Roberts at his side, stands during the Veterans Day ceremony at McEuen Park.
Bill Buley covers the city of Coeur d'Alene for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He has worked here since January 2020, after spending seven years on Kauai as editor-in-chief of The Garden Island newspaper. He enjoys running. | November 12, 2021 1:09 AM
COEUR d’ALENE — Just before the 11 a.m. start of the Veterans Day ceremony at McEuen Park, Darryl Heisey had a request that everyone take a few minutes, go around and thank a veteran.
“That would be awesome. Just give them a handshake,” he said on a gray and cloudy Thursday morning. “Let them know you’re glad that they’re here.”
Alice Brown did just that.
With the help of her walker, she went the length of the Honor Guard, smiling and offering thanks to each. As she did, she thought of her late husband, Bob Brown, who served in the Vietnam War.
“Moved,” she said of how she was feeling. “My husband’s been gone for three years now. He would be so proud.”
About 100 people attended the short ceremony hosted by American Legion Post 14. The guest speaker was Coast Guardsman Rick Jones, a guidance counselor at Coeur d'Alene High School who served with the Coast Guard.
“I will never forget the men I worked with who lost their lives in my career,” he said.
Korean War veteran Robert Banta Sr., for the first time in more than 20 years, was not part of the Honor Guard due to an ailing leg.
Still, he stood at the playing of taps. He held his military cap to his chest, clenched his left fist and bowed his head, with granddaughter Stephanie Roberts at his side.
“I can’t stand very long,” he said. “My leg, it’s sorer than heck.”
Veteran Charles Riffel was given the honor to ring the bell 11 times.
“It’s a pleasure to do it for these veterans,” he said. “It’s just an honor to be around all these guys.
"There’s nobody like veterans,” he added as he walked with wife Gerry.
The Hayden man served in Korea in 1953 and 1954 and went through tough times.
“I had some experiences,” he said. “They just trained us to kill. When the war was over, they brought us home.”
But he was glad that he and two friends went to Korea together and came home together. He was waiting to speak to one of them on Thursday.
“My phone has been ringing off the hook,” he said, smiling. “I have it on vibrate and it’s my buddy from Columbia, Mo., calling me, I’m sure, to say 'hello.' We’ve stayed friends for 70 years.”
Veteran Leon Wood served with the Army in Vietnam. He said Veterans Day was a good opportunity to remember those he served with, and those who didn’t make it home.
“They’re the real heroes, as far as I’m concerned,” he said.
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