Let freedom ring at McEuen Park

On Veterans Day last year, the iconic Third Street bell was transported to the RD Rankin Veterans Memorial Plaza for the ceremony, having been removed during construction from the Third Street dock entrance, its home for decades.

At some point that day, my friend and World War II veteran Jim Shepperd told me that it would be the last time he rang the bell. I was startled, as Jim, a life member of VFW 889, had done the honors for a half-century, both on Veterans Day and Memorial Day. When I asked why, he said he didn't know if the bell would be placed in the new McEuen Park.

The next day, I called Coeur d'Alene City Councilman Mike Kennedy and relayed what I'd been told and asked if he could look into the future of the bell at McEuen. He did one better, by passing my request along to then-Mayor-Elect Steve Widmyer.

Steve contacted me the same day and said he'd be happy to talk with Jim, and asked me to set up coffee for the three of us. So we met, Steve bringing the renderings of McEuen so Jim could ask questions that many of his veteran friends had been wondering about.

A few weeks later I joined Jim in a meeting with the architects and city staff for another visual that resulted in a few tweaks on items that had not been considered.

Bottom line - While not much has been heard about the veterans memorial section of McEuen since the controversy about the removal of the Freedom Tree and the relocation of the Veterans Bell, there will in fact be an incredible and accessible-to-all section of the new park that is devoted to honoring the service and sacrifice of our veterans. I appreciated the respect and courtesy Mayor Widmyer showed to one of Coeur d'Alene's Greatest Generation, and in turn, all veterans. Honoring our veterans in public places is so important and McEuen Park will do just that.

And all will be right with the world if 87-year-old Jim Shepperd is ringing the bell on Memorial Day.

This past week I witnessed once again the huge heart our communities have for doing the right thing with the astounding and swift response to replacing the military branch of service emblems stolen from near the flag pole at Q'emiln Park in Post Falls. Again, thank you sincerely to Teresa and Tom Capone, Community 1st Bank, Nancy Lyon, Joe Dobson, Jim and Andi Fehling, Bennett and Georgia Fuller and Joni Clevenger. The emblems have been ordered and will hopefully be placed by the first of May. All who have served and those who are serving have been honored by this remarkable outpouring.

The glamorous life of a reporter often means spending time on the phone tracking down stories. Press reporter Taryn Thompson was on hold last week for the Northern Lakes Fire Inspector but didn't mind. She described their "hold" music as priceless. The playlist? The Fireman, Smoke From a Distant Fire and Ring of Fire.

Winning a raffle prize of an Alaskan cruise would be pretty exciting. I discovered the next best thing to winning on Saturday night at the Post Falls Senior Center's Gold Rush event, sitting next to the person whose name was drawn. Congratulations DeDe Tondee. And also to Nicole Medlock who won a trip to Disneyland!

David Kamka's grandmother Jane Fantauzzi is celebrating her 100th birthday today. A head injury five years ago has taken its toll, and David says his grandmother has fleeting moments of lucidity but is unable to carry on a conversation now. On Sunday the family took her out for her birthday and when dropping her back at the assisted living home where she now lives, David leaned over to give her a kiss goodbye and received a wonderful gift. His grandmother looked at him and said simply, "I'm happy."

Happy birthday today to Jane Fantauzzi (100!), Dave Fair, Jackie Sharp, Julie Harris, Julie Readel, Nancy Noordam, J.B. Romero, Lorna Griffin, Mike Bennett and WJ Lazerus.

The same tomorrow to Theresa Hart, Jamie Green, Katherin Pope, Dan Dunham, Sharon Erickson, Chris Magera, Susan Reynolds, Lynne Wiedemann and Julie Harris. On Friday, Cindy Sweeney, Brandon Clearwaters, James Heilman, Barb Forgacs, Robert Durflinger, Richard Wegner, Chris Camarata and Page Hibbs will blow out their birthday candles.

On Saturday Bob Koep, Mary Hawkins and Bo Gerzina mark another year. Gloria Weidner, Tabetha Brisbin, Linda Schmidt, Bren Grace and Kathleen Perez were born on March 30.

On Monday, Priscilla Baker, Rick Vernon, Annika Baltzell, Chris Jones, Joey Nowoj, Patrick Reagan, Shirley Christie, Crystal LaFountain (40!), David Holloway and Chris Clayton will have their cake and eat it, too.

Taking another trip around the sun on April Fools' Day are Ed Frazey, Martha Goose, Kim Haddock, Steve Gibbs, Candi Applegate, Chris Thompson and Payton Peugh.

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 2013 by the readers of the North Idaho Business Journal. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email mainstreet@cdapress.com. Follow her on Twitter #kerrithoreson.