'It's a special day'

Veterans Day ceremony brings tears of gratitude

COEUR d'ALENE — As Winton Elementary students sang patriotic songs, William Taylor offered a salute and tears rolled down the veteran's eyes.

Taylor was among 150 or so people who attended Wednesday's Veterans Day ceremony at McEuen Park organized by American Legion Post 14 and VFW Post 889.

"I'm proud to have served my country, but what I'm more proud of is the people who came out in the cold to observe this day," Taylor said. "Every day (the public and veterans) are coming closer together."

Taylor said he and fellow veterans returned from the Vietnam War being called baby-killers, but said each ceremony such as the one in Coeur d'Alene helps heal those wounds of war.

"We're now people who can stand proud because of people thinking of us," Taylor said.

Coeur d'Alene's Ron Green was among those thinking of vets, handing out "thank you" coins with all branches of the military on it to veterans in the crowd.

"It's something I started doing eight years ago," said Green, who is not a veteran. "I always like to shake hands with a veteran whether they are in uniform or wearing a cap."

Post Falls' Dick Dale said he attended the ceremony because he has family members who served.

"We want to honor them so every year we try to go to a ceremony," Dale said. "It's a special day."

Dale said he's encouraged that schools, community groups and individuals do their part to honor vets.

"Veterans are honored much more today than (previous years)," he said.

Keynote speaker Jacques Croom, an American Legion Post 14 member from Coeur d'Alene, said America has always had "bad guys" to deal with and always will.

"As Americans, we will protect not only our own people but the people of other countries who need our assistance," Croom said. "Veterans Day is our way of saluting those who gave so much for us."

Croom moved to Coeur d'Alene three years ago from Washington, D.C. His father-in-law and many friends are buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

"If you ever get the chance to visit D.C., I would encourage you to put Arlington National at the top of your list of places to visit," he said. "You may forget what you saw at the Smithsonian or the Capitol or the National Zoo but you will never forget the feeling of awe that you will experience as you go through Arlington."

Croom was outraged to hear Tuesday's news that the Department of Veterans Affairs doled out more than $142 million in bonuses to executives and employees, including to those in some offices that have experienced scandals and other issues.

"This is shameful and absolutely inexcusable," he said. "Have we really sunk this low as a people that we permit such conduct?"

Croom said we need to pass on our dedication to freedom to the next generation.

"We cannot make the mistake of thinking that everybody loves this country the way we do," he said. "There are many people living in this country today who are dedicated to the destruction of America. That is why we need to stress to our young people the importance of their role in the preservation of America and our way of life."

Croom encouraged attendees to exercise their rights, including the right to vote, because those rights have come with a price.

"Sleep well tonight in a country made safe by many generations of American veterans," Croom said.