Honk for America

COEUR d’ALENE — Terry Alling and son RJ had a contest while they were holding American flags Friday afternoon at a busy intersection.

They tallied one point for every honk from a car with a Washington state license plate, and five points for a honk from one with a California plate.

In a few hours, they piled up the points.

“We’re doing pretty good,” Terry Alling said, smiling. “Even the Californians and the Washingtons, they’re happy to see us.”

The Allings, joined throughout the day by veterans and citizens, took up their post at Fourth and Appleway on Sept. 11 for about five hours to wave Old Glory as they stood by their sign that read, “9-11 Never Forget.”

“It’s just a reminder that we simply don’t forget that day,” Alling said as he waved back at passersby.

It was all positive reactions, with some cheers, too.

“Always great,” Terry Alling said. “No negative whatsoever at all.”

Terry Alling served five years with the Navy, and also served with the Army three years. He was a police officer for nearly 20 years before retiring about five years ago.

In Coeur d’Alene, he is a real estate agent, with “Sheepdogs Real Estate Squad” focusing on police, fire and military on the back on his business card.

Since 2002, he has spent several hours on the anniversary of the terrorist attack on U.S. soil proudly standing on a street corner holding his flag high.

It started when he finished a shift as a police officer in Western Washington and saw a lone man holding a flag on the first anniversary of Sept. 11.

“I went home, changed out of my uniform, I went back with my flag and I joined him. I’ve been doing it ever since,” he said.

People expect to see him at Fourth and Appleway on Sept. 11 — this was his fourth straight year — and he won’t disappoint them.

“Will you be there?” they ask.

“Yes,” he answers.

RJ Alling, 14, is proud to join his father in carrying on the tradition.

“I’m used to it, love it,” he said. “I just love the feedback we always get — super positive.”