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| Kerri Thoreson |
Film doing Pappy proud
An incredible honor for local filmmaker, Kevin Gonzales, and his Pappy Boyington Field documentary ... today it will be shown as part of the Veterans Day program at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, D.C., with director Gonzales in attendance for post-showing Q & A.
The film has been shown all across the country and was a labor of love for Kevin, as he documented the local Marine Corps League efforts to name the Coeur d'Alene Airport field in honor of native son and Medal of Honor recipient Pappy Boyington.
I was honored to have attended the Pappy Boyington Field dedication ceremony in September 2007, along with local veterans and members of Major Boyington's family. To Kevin and all who have served this country and who serve today in a time of war, a sincere and heartfelt thank you.
Veterans Day trivia: U.S. Marines motto -- Semper Fidelis ... Latin for always faithful; faithful to God, Country, Family and the Corps.
Veterans Day quote: "The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation." -- George Washington
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Congratulations to Mirena Sharpe from I.D.E.A. school in Post Falls for producing the grand prize-winning video in the Real Teens, Reel Change contest sponsored by the Kootenai Alliance for Children and Families.
Finalists are Savannah Johnson and Kaity Widmyer from Lakes Middle School, Sarah Martin, Mitch Ketron and Steven Hallgren from Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy, and Lauren Pinney from Coeur d'Alene High School. Find the link to the contest entries at www.kootenaialliance.org. The video shorts will be shown in the near future at Riverstone Regal Cinemas.
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On Friday morning the Post Falls City Council was convened to canvas the votes from Tuesday's election. Kootenai County elections manager Deedie Beard and her soon-to-be replacement, Carrie Phillips, presented the results for approval. Deedie has done such a great job in her role for nearly three decades, she'll be missed when she retires later this month ... after she presides over the official recount in Coeur d'Alene's five-vote council race between Mike Kennedy and Jim Brannon. At least no chads were left hanging.
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As the holidays near, look around our communities for those non-profits who are especially challenged by increased need. Jeff Conroy shared these numbers for St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho comparing October 2008 to October 2009: 209 percent increase in individuals served, 367 percent increase in kids being served and 488 percent increase in families served. I know the Post Falls Food Bank is experiencing similar increases. We can make a difference.
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Today's Veterans Day birthday celebrants include two of my favorite gals, Ruth Pratt and Ellen Jaeger. Nickie Odenthal, Kim Malar and Ellen's niece, Emilia Ovstedal, share the Nov. 11 birthdate.
Tomorrow Ironman Greg Gervais turns 38 and he's still running circles around us all. On Sunday, CHS Class of 1970 classmate Cheryl Siroshton will blow out the candles, joined by Cathleen Lenon and Colleen Allison on Monday. Colleen is turning a very youthful 82 and isn't even the most senior member of this week's Birthday Club. On Tuesday, Harley riding Hazel Dennis is 100! That's also the birthday of Susan Weathers and Al Hassell, as well as my middle daughter, Melani Oleson Gonzalez.
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THERE'S MORE ... at More Main Street read my Soap Box commentary on the Fort Hood shootings, info on the Festival of Trees and other coming events. A link to photos from Hilde Kellogg Park dedication ceremony and to last night's Marine Corps Birthday Ball.
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. More Main Street blog is at http://moremainstreet.blogspot.com. Kerri can be reached at mainstreet@cdapress.com
