Top brass of Post Falls
DEVIN WEEKS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 2 years, 1 month AGO
Post Falls American Legion Post 143 Adjutant Tim Shaw, in white shirt, presents Legionnaire of the Year Gary Dagastine with his award Saturday night during the Post's annual awards banquet.
DEVIN WEEKS/Press
Col. Glen Heape, U.S. Army retired, delivers the keynote speech to a crowd of about 150 attendees Saturday evening at the Post Falls American Legion during the Post's annual awards banquet.
Devin Weeks is a third-generation North Idaho resident. She holds an associate degree in journalism from North Idaho College and a bachelor's in communication arts from Lewis-Clark State College Coeur d'Alene. Devin embarked on her journalism career at the Coeur d'Alene Press in 2013. She worked weekends for several years, covering a wide variety of events and issues throughout Kootenai County. Devin now mainly covers K-12 education and the city of Post Falls. She enjoys delivering daily chuckles through the Ghastly Groaner and loves highlighting local people in the Fast Five segment that runs in CoeurVoice. Devin lives in Post Falls with her husband and their three eccentric and very needy cats. | March 12, 2023 1:09 AM
POST FALLS — It was an evening of admiration, camaraderie and honor.
Post Falls American Legion Post 143 held its annual awards banquet Saturday night, during which those who help, serve, protect and elevate their community were recognized by their peers and supervisors for their selflessness, leadership and dedication.
Legionnaire of the Year was awarded to Gary Dagastine.
"This is a gentleman that when something needs fixed or help is needed to complete a task and no one wants to step forward, he is the first to come forward," Post Commander Jim Culpepper said as he announced the award. "He does not hesitate."
He spoke of Dagastine's unselfish commitment to the Legion and how he never fails to clear paths and parking lots at the Post on snowy winter days, no acknowledgment needed.
"He uses the snowblower to blow it away, then you turn around, and just like a ghost, he's gone," Culpepper said.
Post Adjutant Tim Shaw said Dagastine is also an amazing diver.
"He risked his life many times for the cause," Shaw said.
About 150 people attended the banquet, which has been an annual event for the Post since at least 2006. Police, sheriff's deputies and firefighters looking sharp in uniforms and ladies in lovely attire were among those in attendance, as well as Legion officers in crisp shirts and young helpers in button-downs and ties.
The keynote speaker was decorated Col. Glen Heape, U.S. Army retired.
"They told me to talk about me and my experience, but I was never in the Navy, so I'm not good at talking about myself," he said with a smile, causing several attendees to laugh, groan and clap.
On a serious note, he spoke of the relentless sense of duty and tremendous work of the men and women with whom he served in Afghanistan and Iraq. Heape had command of 65 aircraft, including 16 Apache helicopters.
"We were the terror of ISIS, Al-Qaeda and the Taliban," Heape said. "Our presence over a skirmish usually ended the gunfight and made the enemy rethink their intentions."
He expressed his appreciation to the first responders and educators in the room.
"We all owe you a debt of gratitude for your sacrifice, for your selfless service," Heap said. "Selfless service to our community, I think that's really the bond that brings us all together in this room. Selfless service, something bigger than ourselves."
Other 2023 American Legion Post 143 honorees:
Kootenai County Fire and Rescue
Firefighter of the Year — Ken Peterson
Paramedic of the Year — Andrew Kaplan
Post Falls Police Department
Officer of the Year — Kellsey Torres
Volunteer of the Year — Jacque Panza
Employee of the Year — Lori Flood
Kootenai County Sheriff's Office
Deputy of the Year — Robert Imthurn
Detention Deputy of the Year — Alexander J. Bonds
Post Falls School District
Educator of the Year — Nancy Hicks
American Legion Auxiliary
Member of the Year — Renee Lusby
Volunteers of the Year — Kitchen personnel and bartenders
50-year continuous membership — Gary Main
Certification of Appreciation — Orgill
MORE FRONT-PAGE-SLIDER STORIES
Post Falls American Legion celebrates service, excellence at awards banquet
Coeur d'Alene Press | Updated 1 month, 4 weeks ago
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