Chris Arnold named Numerica’s Veteran Honoree of the Year

Chris Arnold named Numerica’s Veteran Honoree of the Year

Chris Arnold knew she wanted to be a soldier since she was 7 years old, acting out missions with her G.I. Joes, setting traps for potential enemies and starting campfires in her backyard.

With military history on both branches of the family tree, Arnold was familiar with military service and would often visit Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista, Ariz., with her grandparents.

“My grandparents were always taking me as a child up to the base to get groceries, go shopping at the post exchange, go to the park to play with other military kids, and always educated me on the importance of being a soldier and fighting for those who couldn’t fight for themselves,” Arnold said.

She began seriously pursuing her military career as a freshman in high school, befriending the recruits at school and participating in physical training. She wasn’t able to join immediately at 18 years old, but ended up reapplying every six months before enlisting.

“It was my best and proudest day when I signed my name on that line and took my Oath of Enlistment,” Arnold said.

Numerica Credit Union, a longtime presenting sponsor for the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce’s Fourth of July Festival, spotlighted Arnold’s dedication to her country and community impact with the Numerica Military Honor of the Year Award.

“Numerica is proud to recognize and celebrate the impact of local active and retired servicemen and women,” said Amanda Swan, Numerica’s community relations manager. “Although we can’t gather in-person to shine a light on Chris’ passion for supporting veterans in her community, we hope her story inspires others to pay it forward to veterans here in North Idaho.”

Numerica notified Arnold earlier this year of her nomination.

“I accepted the nomination knowing there are more deserving veterans out there and so would like to extend this honor to all the strong, female veterans in our community,” she said.

Joining as a delayed entry in 1995 at 20 years old, Arnold was stationed at Fort Gordon, Ga., where she served in the U.S. Army as a multichannel transmission systems operator and maintainer in the signal corps. Being in the same branch and position as her grandfather, Arnold took pride in her duties and cherished the family and sense of camaraderie she experienced in the Army.

“We had each other’s six and trusted each other like family,” Arnold said. “I remember fondly the amazing leaders and soldiers I served under and got to become friends with, some I’m still friends with to this day.”

While her dreams were to serve on the front lines, Arnold sustained damage to her left knee, ankle and broke her lower back during her second year of active duty and was never deployed.

After being honorably medically discharged, she served in the reserves for four years and was given medical retirement.

After moving to Kootenai County in 2001 and setting roots as a single mother to daughter Franki and son Leif, Arnold has turned her passion from military service into caring for her fellow veterans.

She became a member of American Legion Post 143 in Post Falls. She became involved with providing food, shelter, cleaning the cemetery, decorating graves with flags on Memorial Day, and joined the Rathdrum American Legion Post 154.

Arnold also became a member of the North Idaho Chapter of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association.

CVMA has helped Arnold connect with organizations to aid local veterans and their families.

“We provide assistance by helping with medications, vehicle repairs, necessary home improvements, manual labor, holiday meals, school supplies, and anything else we’re able to assist with,” Arnold said.

Due to COVID-19, CVMA hasn’t been able to hold fundraisers but is still looking for ways to help veterans. The group is accepting donations at www.northidahocvma.com and welcomes newcomers.

“It means a great deal to me that even though I wasn’t able to fulfill my dream of being a career soldier, I’m able to still help and support our local veterans in any way I can,” Arnold said. “Hopefully through this honor, I’m able to bring more awareness to the veterans needing some kind of assistance in our community.”