Soldiers from nearly 100 years ago

As always, the Cowboy Breakfast at the old Pleasantview School brought interesting people with wonderful stories.

For several years, I'd noticed a framed and yellowed calligraphy on the wall of the school. On Saturday I asked octogenarian John Bentley if he had any knowledge of the history of the Honor Roll. We took it down and looked at it closely. It appears to be an enlistment registry, likely of onetime Pleasantview School students during World War I, in 1917 and 1918. There are young men from the same families on the list, brothers or cousins perhaps.

John served in World War II and in Korea with the U.S. Army, and we talked also about his service as we imagined the stories behind the names on the list: Leroy Crouch, Arthur Chandlier, Sydney Oakland, James Goumas, Pate Hampton, Lawrence Hartleroad, John Ivanoff, Andrew Stayanoff, George Peters, James Peters, Everett Dodge, George Dodge, John Ware, Sanford Ware, Bert Ware, John Hearing, Elvin Hearing, Amos Smith and Ray Smith.

It's never too late to thank these soldiers for their service.

Tonight at the Coeur d'Alene Eagles downtown, Cindy Roth will feel the love of her friends, co-workers and community. Enjoy a delicious tri-tip dinner and auctions from 5:30-9 p.m., with all proceeds going to help Cindy with her increasing medical costs and monthly expenses as she battles pancreatic cancer. Call Linda Wilhelm at 661-4140 for details.

If you missed the annual Tulip Festival on Washington's west side this spring, there's always the thousands of gorgeous tulips in full bloom at Kootenai Health on Highway 95 and Ironwood Drive. It's a great visual gift to the community every year.

Coeur d'Alene High School Class of '70 classmate Christine Graupman Maiani completed her 31st Bloomsday on Sunday. As she turns 62 later this summer, she has now competed in Bloomsday for half her life. Christine and I are the same age but she has me beat by 29 Bloomsdays.

On Friday, Brendan Murphy, Post Falls Urban Forester, was feted on his last day with the City. He's moving back home to Australia. Parks and Rec Director Dave Fair brought the perfect potluck treat for someone heading down under: pineapple upside-down cake.

The annual Veterans Stand Down is Saturday at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. Volunteers are always needed and you can sign up online at kootenaiunitedway.org. For more information on the Stand Down or veteran assistance call Eric Swanbeck, St. Vincent de Paul Veteran Services Coordinator, at (208)704-0548.

Sunday is Mother's Day, and the Post Falls Lions will host their annual Mother's Day Breakfast at the Senior Center from 7-11 a.m. Moms are treated to breakfast, others are $6. American Legion Post 143 on Poleline and Syringa will also treat mothers to breakfast on Sunday from 8 -11 a.m., all others at regular prices.

Happy Birthday today to Chris Moore, Randy Williams, Pete Shepperd, Kathie Brack, Lisa Aitken, Rob Rinard, Jr., Rena Pruitt, Ramona Kaiser, David Dasher and Phil Pyseky.

Wish Matt Barkley, Julie Adamchak, Aaron Calkins, Tiffany Teal, Dave Walker, Lindsey Sales, Nic Riorden, Jared Raynor and Mary Rednour a happy birthday Thursday.

On Friday, Tara Dagastine, Valerie Emery, Bonnie Clark, George Larsen and Carla Noonan are putting on their party hats.

Coltan and Cadan Virgil turn 10 on the tenth, sharing the day with Shelly Servick, Don Smock, Shelly Matthews, Pearl Bouchard, David Dickinson, Debra Altman, Margie Adams and Ginger Cutler.

Mother's Day is also a birthday for Anne Hagman, Anthony Skarisky, Stephanie Knox and Sharon Culbreth.

On May 12 Mary Rawlsky, Allison Cook, Lynette Walsh, Bob Hoskins, Jason Penzkover, Craig Ziegler, Olivia Jacobsen, Wyatt Dickinson and Jon Brewer will celebrate their birthdays.

On Tuesday Kathy Hlebichuk, Steve Pollard, Tim Cushman, Judy Brooks, Charlie Morris, Eric Keck and Chuck Buck will take another trip around the sun.

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 [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter #kerrithoreson.