Veterans and voting, grateful for both
The opening narration of the PBS American Experience “The Battle of the Chosin” airing this month ... “In the last days of November 1950, twelve-thousand men of the First Marine Division, along with a few thousand Army soldiers, found themselves trapped high in the mountains of North Korea, near a reservoir called Chosin. Their leaders had been caught off guard by the sudden entrance of the People's Republic of China into the five-month old Korean War. The Americans were surrounded, outnumbered, and at risk of annihilation. The two-week battle that followed is among the most momentous in U.S. history. It helped set the course of American foreign policy in the Cold War and beyond. And it remains one of the most renowned in Marine Corps annals.”
My father, the late Ron Rankin, was a 21-year-old Marine, assigned to driving a supply truck at the Battle of the Chosin with the First Marine Division. Against the odds he survived. It was not until I was in my 40s and he was in his 60s that he opened up about his experience. It was harrowing to hear but gave me great insight into how in that most unforgiving foreign land my father’s lifelong patriotism and gratitude took hold.
His story is one of a million that could be told for the men and women throughout the generations who have served and do serve in our military. It’s unique to him but not to military service. Heroes are not difficult to find wearing the uniform of the Marines, Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. Friday is the day set aside to honor our veterans but for many, that honor is paid every single day. This year our grandson, Jared Gonzalez is an active duty sailor with the U.S. Navy.
As I write this week’s column it’s election day. As you read this, we will have chosen our next president with record voter turnout across the land. One of the stories that my father told of his experiences at the Battle of the Chosin was about the 90,000 North Korean civilians who walked out with the Marines. The temperatures were at least 50 below zero and most were not dressed for that weather. But they walked ... the elderly, the young, mothers with infants in arms. “They voted for freedom with their feet,” my father told me.
Every time I step into the voting booth I’m filled with gratitude to live in this great country where we can cast a ballot. On Veterans Day there is gratitude for those who served and have preserved that right for us all.
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Deedie Beard managed elections for Kootenai County for about a quarter century before retiring. Several years ago she told me the elections staff doesn’t fret much about recounts since they had a special prayer they would say right before they turned on the tabulating machine, “Dear Lord, let the best candidates win and let them win BIG.”
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Local Trivia: When Gary Schneidmiller was named Coeur d’Alene’s 2016 Citizen of the Year last week he became the second person to have received the award in both Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene. Gary was named Post Falls Citizen of the Year in 2006. The other person to have been dually honored is retired Avista exec Paul Anderson, who received the awards in both Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene in the 1990s.
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I spent a miserable several days with lower back spasms, the likes of which I’ve never experienced. I’m vertical and pain free after laying low, literally, but it really made me realize how fortunate I am to not have to live with chronic pain. It’s exhausting mentally and physically. Standing is good, laying down is good but sitting at my computer is still problematic. Might have to treat myself to a new desk chair or maybe one of those treadmill desks that Jason Sanchez is designing and Nick Smoot hopes to have available for members of the Innovation Collective Den in the near future.
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Things to do highlights ... Thursday at 2:30 p.m. the LAM Christian Academy presents a Veterans Day performance of Our Great Nation. Open to public 4800 N. Ramsey Road.
Friday from 10 a.m. to noon the Idaho tree heading to Washington, D.C., will be on public display at Fifth and Front Avenue in Coeur d’Alene.
Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. the Holiday Market Extravaganza at the Greyhound Park and Event Center.
Saturday the Post Falls Senior Center’s Winter Wonderland Style Show from 5-8 p.m. at the center.
Sunday Manuel Schneidmiller American Legion Post 154 is hosting Veterans Day Recognition to honor veterans at Lakeland High School. 2:30 p.m. and open to the public.
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Happy birthday today to Gratia Griffith, Austin Gardner, Todd Tondee, Ben Rae, Lori Sherfey, Janine Avila, Gary Ulvan, Matt Lyman and Dennis Hall.
Nov. 10 birthdays are celebrated by Jeanne Norton, Beverly Pogue, Kathleen Tillman, Bret Bowers, Marlow Hendricks, Doug Eastwood, John Evans, Diane Horton, Dale Broadsword and the U.S. Marine Corps, celebrating 241 years of honor and tradition. Semper Fi.
11/11 birthdays for Ruth Pratt, Ellen Jaeger, Graydon Stanly, Tim Mitchell, Eugene Boyle, Aaron Roberts, Amy Colbert, Ruth Morrow, Kim Malar-Currie, Kelli Fahy, Heather Bryant, Ron Lahr and Emilia Ovstedal.
On Saturday Faith Mitchell, Polly Johnson, Marshall Mend, Dana Ryan, Greg Gervais, Robert Lantz, Antigone Twidt, Brenda Murphy and Amanda Behringer will celebrate.
Cheyenne Tate, Desiree Janke, Timarie Lindquist, Tonya Yost, Margaret Ogram, Jennifer Currie, Matt Backs and Jeannette Laster will be feeling lucky on their 13th of November birthdays.
Mamie Johnson (75!), Jane Hansen, Jill Satterly, Tim Curry, Ann Jaworski and Robert Chatters have birthdays on Monday.
Blowing out the candles on their cakes on Tuesday are Matt Backs, Christopher Banks, Cheryl Siroshton, Mark Fisher, Teresa Peugh, Jan Pollard, Joan Antonich, Charlie Miller, Christina Ethridge and Mary Scalise.
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Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. 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.