Bryan Bledsoe recognized as Numerica military honoree of the year

COEUR d'ALENE — Bryan Bledsoe, a Vietnam War veteran, was named the 2021 Numerica Military Honoree of the Year.

Bledsoe will be honored as part of the American Heroes Parade at 11 a.m. July 4, a signature event of the Coeur d’Alene Fourth of July Festival, presented by longtime sponsor Numerica Credit Union.

“Numerica is proud to recognize and celebrate the impact of active and retired servicemen and women,” said Jody Azevedo, Numerica’s assistant vice president of community development and impact. “We are so excited to gather in person to shine a light on Bryan’s passion for supporting veterans in our community. His story inspires us to thank and support our North Idaho veterans.”

This year, the two-day event will also include entertainment, vendors, carnival rides, music and fireworks. The event is organized by the Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Bledsoe is a U.S. Army veteran who spent three years active duty after graduating from Spokane’s Lewis and Clark High School. He served one year in Vietnam as a helicopter crew chief and door gunner.

He devotes most of his time to veteran organizations and issues, including serving as part of the American Legion Post 154 Honor Guard. He is also an active member of Veterans Help Net, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 889, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 890, North Idaho Stand Down, Idaho Veterans Assistance League, among others.

Bledsoe is retired from a career in real estate in the Inland Northwest. He and his wife, Jean, who is also a veteran, live in Post Falls.

Numerica also plans to honor 2020 Military Honoree of the Year Chris Arnold at this year’s Fourth of July Festival after last year’s in-person event was canceled. A single mother and Gulf War-era veteran of the U.S. Army, Arnold is an active American Legion volunteer serving the North Idaho veteran community.

Headquartered in Spokane Valley, Numerica has more than 160,000 members throughout North Idaho, Eastern Washington and Central Washington and about $3.2 billion in assets.