Memorial Day ... we remember

As we head into the first three-day weekend of the upcoming summer season, it's good to remember why Memorial Day is observed. In 1868, it was known as Decoration Day, a day to decorate the graves of Civil War soldiers. Now it commemorates American war dead through the generations. Take some time from the picnics and attend with your family one of many ceremonies being held in our communities on Monday.

World War II veteran Jim Shepperd is among my favorite people. He has wonderful stories of his family growing up here and his interesting adventures. Many of the stories are actually true. I thought I knew most of Jim's stories but I learned one this week that is both touching and humorous. Typical Jim. A special part of the Memorial Day ceremonies at the Third Street docks is the laying of the wreath in the water to honor those in the military who were lost at sea.

Jim's cousin John was lost in 1945 on a submarine in the Mariana Straights of the Northern Pacific so it's a very personal gesture for Jim each year. I've seen the lovely wreaths he's placed on the waters of Lake Coeur d'Alene but had no idea that they're such a labor of love. Jim awakens at dawn on Memorial Day and creates the wreath from lilacs, cherry blossoms and other bright flowers from his neighborhood. He weaves the small branches and stems together so there will be no wire or pieces of metal to litter the lake bottom. When I said it was wonderful that his neighbors contribute to the effort Jim deadpanned, "They don't know they do."

Now that I've outted him, I hope the neighbors pay no mind to the esteemed member of The Greatest Generation as he goes about the gathering of the beautiful blossoms at daybreak on Memorial Day.

Tomorrow I'll be having lunch with hundreds of people. Chili's on the menu ...lots of chili, made by 32 local companies for a good cause, and for bragging rights, too. Host Mike O'Brien, of Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn, cooked up the idea to raise money for the two food banks in our area, Post Falls and Community Action Partnership. All proceeds from the $10 taste-a-thon will benefit the agencies and help put food on the table for struggling families.

The difficult task of judging the entries and declaring a Grand Champion (hence the bragging rights component) will fall upon the able forks of Steve Wilson, John Chambers, yours truly and a couple of bona fide chefs, Tyler Schwenk and David Blaine. So join the flavorful fun from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and cast your ballot for the People's Choice Award. 506 W. Appleway in Coeur d'Alene.

My husband bought me a retro "cruiser" bike for my milestone birthday last week. The young salesman mentioned that everything from the '50s is back in style. I joked that I was a 1952 model and have never been out of style. Riding around the neighborhood when we got home I was thinking it's been about 50 years since I had my very own brand new bicycle. With the wind in my hair I felt like a little kid ... with a new bike. :)

Going through withdrawals of sorts since the Post Falls Police Department went digital with their dispatch transmissions. Other local law enforcement agencies are following suit. After a couple of decades of having my now obsolete scanner on in my office it's noticeably quiet and I'm feeling out of the loop.

Happy Birthday today to Denise Durflinger, Margie McGaughey, Theresa Williams, Susan Ballinger, Joel Riner, April Needham, Steve Vick, Cathyanne Nonini and Elaine Pandolfi. Tomorrow Cliff Hayes, Richard Wilson, Brian Young, John McHugh, Shirley Galloway, Adam DeLuca and Amy Moffat celebrate their birthdays. Friday's birthday line-up includes Lori Moreland, Victoria Vaillancourt, Meghann Cuniff, Sara Knapp, Brad Cedarbloom, Dick Haugen, Debbie Long, Kacey Short, Nicholas Hart and Mia Hart. Saturday Jessica Lenz and Amie LaVoie Moore are the birthday girls and Mason Bush celebrates his second birthday. On Sunday Kenny Gabriel, Greg and Joe Gilliland, Connor Rhodes and Nancy Herold blow out the candles. Memorial Day birthday wishes to Shirlee Wandrocke, Dave Kohli, Scott Shellman, Melissa Feusier, Judy Padilla, Ryan Shuck, John Caylor and Tom Lewis. May 29 birthday celebrations for Sy Thompson, Pehr Black, Butch Andrews, Jeff Pryse and Starr Shewey.

Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. She was voted Best Local Writer for 2012 by the readers of the North Idaho Business Journal. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri is on the air Mondays and Wednesdays on 1080 ESPN AM (KVNI).