Of flags and friendship enduring
Since this is the day we celebrate the 236th anniversary of America's Independence, it's fitting to share a heart warming Fourth of July story. In 1945 Rockland J. (Jimmy) Randall was serving with the U.S. Marine Corps during the Battle of Okinawa when he was killed in action. Jimmy grew up in Coeur d'Alene on Sherman Avenue. One of his good friends was Jim Shepperd, also a Sherman Avenue boy, who joined the Navy and went away to war but returned to marry, raise a family and make a life. A dedicated citizen and veteran he's been, not forgetting any of the boys who never made it home from the war.
Not too many years ago Jim Shepperd was collecting worn out flags to be ceremoniously retired by the Boy Scouts when a package within a pile of old flags caught his eye ... and an address: 1810 Sherman Ave., Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. That was the home of his friend from youth, Jimmy Randall. Inside the envelope was a 48-star flag, a flag that had draped Randall's casket and was then sent to his mother over a half century before.
Jim kept the flag, believing with all his heart that it was no coincidence that it was he who found that envelope. Now he flies Jimmy Randall's flag every Fourth of July and Veterans Day at his Coeur d'Alene home.
An old friend, a veteran blessed with a long life, honoring and remembering a young Marine ...gone and buried 67 years ago. "Oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave ...o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave." In Jimmy Randall's hometown, yes it does.
* Note: Rockland J. Randall's name is etched on the black marble Killed in Action monument at the Ronald D. Rankin Veterans Memorial Plaza at the Kootenai County Courthouse, along with the names of all local heroes who died in combat, from the Spanish American War through Vietnam.
On Saturday it will be one year since this community lost two young heroes to the war in Iraq. Nick Newby and Nate Byers, like Jimmy Randall before them, left behind family, friends and fellow soldiers. Young lives cut far too short. But we will long remember and honor those willing to give their last full measure of devotion on the battlefield for a grateful nation.
In 1978 Chuck Peterson was running the Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce. He was bemoaning the fact that there were no marching bands in that year's Fourth of July Parade. Larry Strobel thought he could put some musician friends together and make some music. For 35 years the Perfection-Nots have been delighting the spectators of the Fourth of July parade and Larry, along with longtime CHS band director John Terris and a hundred or more of their fellow musicians just get better every year. Their outlandish and creative costumes and single annual practice belie the fact that these are some of the best musicians from all corners of our community. The drum major will be Ron Strobel, CHS '83 ... reprising his role from high school. Give them an extra round of applause when they pass by!
Over the past few days, athletes with local ties have known the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. Ian Waltz missed one of the three U.S. Olympic Team spots when he came up short in the discus and placed fourth in the Olympic Trials. Kyle Johnson hit his first home run since being drafted by the Los Angeles Angels while playing for their Orem, Utah, farm team. Professional bass fisherman Brandon Palaniuk earned a second place trophy in the Green Bay Challenge.
If you saw or heard a 757 jet or a MV-22 Osprey in the skies over North Idaho on Saturday, here's the rest of the story ... the 757 arrived at Pappy Boyington Field at the Coeur d'Alene Airport Saturday morning carrying a crew of one (the pilot) and a couple. It's a private jetliner owned by Ronald Burkle, one of only 425 billionaires in America. Starting out in his father's grocery store as a bag boy, Burkle made his fortune with his private equity firm and among other ventures is part owner of the NHL Pittsburgh Penguins. An in-the-know old-timer out on the tarmac told me the customized commercial-sized jet features three bedrooms and a spa ... a giant flying RV. :) No confirmation that Mr. Burkle and his companion stopped for the day in Coeur d'Alene for a Hudson's burger before flying out about 5 p.m.
And that was a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 on a training mission that came into the airport just before 1 p.m. on Saturday before heading out again about 4:30 p.m. The pilot of the aircraft, that can fly like a jet or with wings vertical land like a helicopter, was Capt. J.A.Whitefield, a 2004 graduate of University of Idaho, one of only 300 men and women qualified to fly the MV-22.
This morning Main Street goes on the road ... at least for a few blocks when I'll head up into the skybox (in front of Tito's on Sherman Avenue between 2nd and 3rd streets) for the best view of the Fourth of July parade ... the announcer's booth! Come by and say hello. While they last I have the red Support Our Troops wristbands from KXLY and Global Credit Union to give away. And a reminder for parents to set a good example for the kids when the color guard goes by with our country's grand old flag ... stand and remove your hats!
Happy Birthday today to the United States of America and Chris Atkinson, Joscelyn Ramsey, Jake Campbell, Keri Raybal, MaryBeth Matthews, Dick Lind, Tyson Chamberlain, Britney Davenport, Jack Smetana, Glenda Johnson, Amber Hunt, Teresa Espe and Orla Kahl. Tomorrow John Beutler, Chris Hollibaugh, Kaila Hansen, Amy Dreps are celebrating. On Friday Barb McCarley, Bill Brooks, Wade Jacklin and Robin Ducote will blow out the candles and marking birthdays on Saturday are Becky Robison, Susie Jameson, Tim Adams and Susie Sullivan. July 8 is the birthdate of Taryn Thompson, Peter Finney, Bev Hammond, Dawson Brown and Carrie Erickson. Starting the week with birthdays on Monday are Loren Mitchell, Brooke Hell, Jenny Joyner and Renee Christensen. On July 10 congratulate Heather Wichman, Gene Gertson, Amber Blanchette, Jan Ryan, Collin Coles, Darren Olson, Pat Fuller and Jim Hail Sr. on another trip around the sun!
Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri Rankin Thoreson is on the air Mondays and Wednesdays on 1080 ESPN AM (KVNI).