Let Dunlap legacy live on

All the stories being told of John Dunlap won't come close to filling the void left by his death last weekend.

It's an honor to hear them anyway.

Dunlap survived three decades in the Navy but at the age of 78 could not overcome a stroke that felled him Jan. 27. That's not the man who will be memorialized this Saturday, though.

What friends and family - in John's case they are one and the same - will recall might sound like this.

Post Falls Mayor Clay Larkin first met Dunlap long ago, when Larkin was a volunteer fireman in Post Falls.

"He called and wanted us to furnish a name of a deserving firefighter to receive the Legion Public Service Award," Larkin told reporter Brian Walker. The result of that call? The award became an annual affair over many years, with several police and fire nominees going on to win state awards, as well.

Dunlap was no stranger to awards himself. He was Post Falls Citizen of the Year in 1997, received the Legion's national Homeless Veterans Outreach Award, the governor's Brightest Stars award and the Above and Beyond Award from the Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve, among others.

"He believed in giving out awards but was humbled when someone recognized him," said Larkin.

The American Legion Post 143 building on Poleline, where Dunlap's life will be celebrated at 1 p.m. this Saturday? He built that - with help, of course. Help was what John Dunlap was all about, and when he asked you for some, why, you complied. Quickly, too.

"He was punctual," Larkin noted, "and if an event was to start at 6 p.m., that's what he meant. We all have been subject to hearing John say, 'Get a move on, we're late.'"

Another veteran who knew and loved John, Chaplain Richard Baker, put it succinctly:

"He was a tough old nut. [We] will really miss all the things he did."

In fact, we already do.

In lieu

of flowers

In lieu of flowers, send contributions to the John Dunlap Veterans Military Museum, c/o American Legion Post 143, P.O. Box 725, Post Falls, ID 83877.