Special Memorial Day visitors at ceremony
Butterflies are beautiful ... joyful to watch float and flutter on the breeze. Their symbolism in many cultures is one of rebirth, resurrection and transformation. On Monday morning during the Memorial Day remembrance at Evergreen Cemetery in Post Falls there were a dozen or more softly fluttering about. While words and the names of departed veterans were spoken aloud, the butterflies flew. While songs were sung and wreaths placed in honor of those who gave the last full measure of devotion on the battle field, butterflies flew. While the bugler played Taps, butterflies flew.
I’ve attended and participated in Memorial Day ceremonies for quite a few years, many of those right there at Evergreen Cemetery and have no recollection of such a phenomena in previous ceremonies. The sight was so comforting and joyful to many in attendance that the chaplain gave thanks for their presence in his benediction.
Locally there were seven Memorial Day ceremonies on Monday, with Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Rathdrum and Hayden all holding annual events to honor the fallen. Our communities honor veterans and the military throughout the year. Veterans volunteer to provide military honors at dozens of funerals and volunteer to provide color guards at community events.
Perhaps the butterflies were bringing a message of gratitude from those who’ve gone before for so many paying respects and remembering the sacrifices in the name of freedom made through the generations by our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines.
“I only ask to be free. The butterflies are free.” — Charles Dickens
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Things to Do Highlights: Friday, Post Falls Rotary golf tournament at The Links. Noon to 6 p.m. postfallsrotary.org..
Saturday at McEuen Park, Run for 271 5k for all ages, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Proceeds from this event go to the 11 elementary schools in School District #271.
Also on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon, The Great Expedition at Q’emlin Park, exploring the Upper Falls Community Forest. Post Falls Parks & Recreation Department. 208-773-0539.
The Coeur d’Alene Casino hosts the first Cultural Exchange Celebration on Saturday. Cultural stations at Chinook Meadow from noon to 4 p.m. From 6 to 8 p.m. in the event center, with special cultural performances including Vietnamese, Philipino, Hmong and Native American. All free to the public. 1-800-523-2464, DeeDee McGowen, ext 7415 or Laura Stensgar, ext 7275.
Saturday and Sunday, North Idaho Mineral Club Rock and Gem Show, Building 1 at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.
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Happy Main Street birthday today to Matt Weaver, Justin Curtis, Sheila Spears, Jenny Prince, Chip Wideen (50!), Chloe Fleming and Becky Bridges. Tomorrow Trey Barker III, Cindy Wood, Roger Beaulieu, Craig Singer, Lindsay Cantrell, Peggy Suenkel and Meredith Close celebrate.
First day of June birthday wishes to Sandy Shopbell, Patrick Booth, Dave Stutzke, Shannon Coles, Debbie Costa, Patrick Booth, Mason Alexander, Tresa Brown and Vicki White. Sharing June 2 birthdays are Al Williams, Mike and Mitch Alexander, Nancy Mueller, Drake Foster, Brenda Walters, Irene Seidler and Nels Jensen.
On June 3 JoAnn Nelson, Mitch Heid, Scott Osburn, Matthew Huthinson, Kathy Larson, Devin Weeks, Sharon Timmons, Susan Mensching and Matt Boseth take another trip around the sun. On Monday Natalie Wyant, Lynsie Odd, Jay Sadler, Kirk Dady, Jessica Downs and Nikki Downs will celebrate. Alec Steele, Evelyn Bevacqua Howe, Harold Appleby Jr., Joel Semanko, Helen Elder, Dale Rounsville, Ron Hodge and JaNee Newby mark their birthdays on Tuesday.
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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. Find Kerri on Facebook or via email mainstreet@cdapress.com.