BONNERS FERRY — What began as a plan for a simple ceremony has grown into an all-out gala affair to honor veterans in Boundary County. 

Students, educators, and veterans will join community organizations throughout Boundary County on Wednesday, Nov. 11, for a community-wide Veterans Day Memorial Service featuring a slate of activities honoring local veterans. 

The originally planned smaller ceremony at Bonners Ferry High School has grown into a collaborative effort involving schools, local veterans organizations, and community volunteers from across the county.  

Bonners Ferry High School Principal Lisa Iverson said the event has expanded considerably since the initial planning stages. 

The idea began when band and choir teacher Mallerie Moore approached Iverson about hosting a Veterans Day ceremony in the high school auditorium, where students could perform onstage. Plans soon grew to include a luncheon prepared by high school culinary students. 

As discussions continued with local veterans organizations, organizers began envisioning something much larger. 

Representatives involved in planning include American Legion Commander Casey Gannon, Veterans of Foreign Wars Commander Rieda Sandal, Bobby Rains, and other local veterans. 

Seeing so many people come together to recognize veterans is particularly meaningful to Gannon. 

"I just am so proud to see our community come together and honor all those that took the oath," Gannon said. 

He added that the overwhelming participation that made two separate ceremonies necessary has been especially moving.  

With students from multiple schools expected to participate, organizers moved the ceremonies to the Boundary County Middle School gymnasium, which has a capacity of approximately 1,200 people. 

The elementary assembly will begin at 9:30 a.m. and continue until approximately 10:40 a.m. Students from Boundary County elementary schools, local charter schools and Foundations School will participate in the program. 

The Civil Air Patrol will present the colors, and students from participating schools will contribute to the ceremony. The program will also include recognition of winners of a patriotic postcard competition. 

Once the postcards have been printed, students whose artwork was selected in the competition will receive boxes of postcards featuring their own designs, Gannon said. 

Following the elementary assembly, Boundary County Middle School student leadership will host a reception in the cafeteria. Meanwhile, preparations will be made for the second assembly, scheduled from 10:40 a.m. to noon, which will bring together middle school and high school students from participating schools. 

The presentation of colors will be led by McKenna Sandal and fellow students. Moore will direct the high school band and choir in patriotic musical selections. 

Guest speakers will include veterans Tom Cheney and Victor Underwood, who will share his military experiences and participate in a question-and-answer session with students. 

The ceremony will also recognize winners of the Patriot's Pen and Voice of Democracy competitions. 

At 11:11 a.m., attendees will observe a moment of silence, with the winner of the elementary patriotic postcard competition ringing a bell to mark the occasion. 

The American Legion Honor Guard will be present to distribute commemorative challenge coins to veterans attending the ceremonies. 

Two veterans will receive special quilts in recognition of their service, with the recipients to be announced during the event. 

Following the assemblies, veterans will have an opportunity to visit the Field of Flags at Bonners Ferry High School before attending a luncheon prepared by the school's culinary students under the direction of teacher and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America adviser Kim Cravens. 

The noon luncheon will be open to veterans and their families and will include a reading by a student essay contest winner and a special Missing Man Table display honoring military personnel who have not returned home. 

Lisa Carl, office manager at BFHS and coordinator of the tribute, said the school first introduced the Field of Flags a couple of years ago to recognize veterans with connections to the community. 

Each veteran whose name has been submitted will be honored with a flag bearing their name. 

The flags will be placed on the field the day before Veterans Day and will remain on display throughout the holiday, Carl said. The flags will be arranged alphabetically across the high school football field, allowing veterans, family members, and visitors to locate individual tributes. 

As evening approaches, the football field lights will illuminate the display. Veterans are invited to walk through the Field of Flags following the second assembly before making their way to the luncheon. 

For Iverson, one of the most meaningful aspects of the expanded celebration is the opportunity to recognize the veterans who regularly dedicate their own time to organizing community observances. Local veterans such as Gannon, Sandal and Rains frequently spend Veterans Day coordinating activities and making sure everything runs smoothly for others, she said. 

She hopes the collaborative approach will allow local veterans to spend more time enjoying the recognition and appreciation intended for them.