In memoriam
<p>Lieutenant Colonel Vaughn Ward of the United States Marine Corps chokes up as he speaks about his service in Fallujah and the honor of performing a battlefield funeral for his comrades during the unveiling of the War on Terrorism Killed In Action monument Saturday.</p>
<p>Occasionally wiping a tear from his eye after reading off the names of six of Kootenai County's recently fallen soldiers, commander Steven Hanson sits in front of the newly unveiled War On Terrorism Killed In Action monument Saturday while speaker Leutenant Colonel Vaughn Ward shares his experience with loss in Fallujah.</p>
<p>Duke Gaffney of the Military Order of the Devil Dogs color guard stands next to the dedication ceremony for the War On Terrorism Killed In Action monument Saturday at the Kootenai County courthouse.</p>
<p>Katie Brody speaks on behalf of Governor Otter at the Kootenai County courthouse courtyard before the War On Terrorism Killed In Action monument was unveiled Saturday.</p>
COEUR d’ALENE — A helmet rests on the stock of an inverted rifle, close to a pair of combat boots.
Sometimes, dog tags dangle from the rifle.
It is the Battlefield Cross, the symbol commemorating the life of the soldier who once used that rifle and wore those dog tags.
A bronze Battlefield Cross was unveiled Saturday afternoon in the Ronald D. Rankin Veterans Memorial Plaza at the Kootenai County Courthouse. The new War on Terrorism Killed in Action memorial bears the names of the six servicemen from Kootenai County who made the ultimate sacrifice
while fighting in the Middle East: Robert Benson, 20; Timothy Kiser, 37; Matthew Holley, 21; Bradley Conner, 41; Nathan Beyers, 24; and Nicholas Newby, 20.
“The Battlefield Cross, for many of you here today, is a memorial to the fallen,” said United States Marine Corps Lt. Col. Vaughn Ward. “That it is. For those of us who fought in combat alongside these men, it also represents a warrior’s symbol, and it is an honor to be a part of recognizing their enormous sacrifice.”
Ward spoke heart-rendering words, sometimes pausing to let the emotion pass. He wore his uniform from his service in Iraq, with the American flag his little sister gave him still in the arm pocket. He said it seemed fitting to present himself as he was when he had to perform Battlefield Cross ceremonies for four of the more than three dozen in his unit who were killed in combat.
“Today we are gathering in the community to remember our local heroes, who did not come back to us from the battlefield,” Ward said.
Nearly 60 people attended the unveiling ceremony, which lasted about an hour. It began with a formal presentation of colors by the Marine Corps League Pappy Boyington Detachment 966. Veterans, families, active military and law enforcement officials fell into salute or solemnly clasped their hands as they paid their respects.
Commander Steven Hanson fought alongside two of the men honored on the memorial. He said their names into the microphone before the unveiling, a tearful moment.
“We’re here to honor all veterans, and to make sure that the public knows what’s going on here,” said Post Falls American Legion adjutant Bryan Bledsoe. “It’s easy to forget that we have people deployed all over the world right now.”
Opening remarks were made by plaza curator Kerri Rankin Thoreson, a main proponent of the KIA memorial. She began working on it months ago.
“In attendance, we have veterans who continue to serve. Veterans from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq and Afganistan,” she said. “I thank you all for your service past, present and future.”
Katie Brodie, special assistant to Governor Butch Otter, read a letter from the governor because he could not attend.
“There is no greater sacrifice an American could make than serving in our armed forces,” she read to the crowd. “It’s fitting and proper to honor the courageous men and women who have put their lives on the line to safeguard the rights and freedoms we cherish as citizens of the United States.”
Thoreson thanked Jamie Jenkins of Gargoyle Granite and Ned Inge of Tumblestone for helping to create the memorial.
“This was never a drawing,” she said. “The whole project has many hands on it and many hearts in it.”
Margaret Ogram served in the Air Force from 1953-1960. Her husband Al served in the Army. The Ograms, of Hayden, met while stationed in Germany, where they were married 54 years ago. They’re active in the Post Falls American Legion and stood next to Bledsoe as he handed out programs before the ceremony.
“It is moving, and it’s very rewarding for us,” Margaret said.
The ceremony closed with a gun salute by the Marine Corps League Pappy Boyington Detachment rifle squad, followed by an endearing rendition of “Taps,” played by bugler Rich Burbine.
“It’s OK to cry, it shows you’re human,” Margaret said.
The memorial was placed adjacent the 8-foot Killed in Action monument that commemorates local servicepeople who were killed in Vietnam, Korea, World War II, World War I and the Spanish-American War.
The Kootenai County Courthouse is located at 324 W. Garden Ave.