The story behind this flag

The orange 1947 Willys Jeep in Sunday’s Fourth of July parade will be carrying the Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber of Commerce’s 2020 volunteer and citizen of the year. But it’ll be toting something else.

A flag. Well, a bunch of American flags, thanks to Willys owner and Volunteer of the Year Heidi Rogers, but one other flag as well. It’s the banner of the 82nd Airborne Division.

The guy sitting in the Willys is the citizen of the year, a perfectly average citizen, in fact, which is proof that those who selected him had access to some potent firewater before the vote was taken.

That guy is also writing this editorial, which is why you’re about to understand the significance of the 82nd Airborne flag in Sunday's parade.

Aaron Grigsby grew up in the Broadmoore Estates neighborhood of Hayden, where he was friends with the son of the citizen of the year and his wife, Sholeh. When Aaron was old enough, he enlisted to fight for his country.

Here’s what Wikipedia says about Aaron’s military family, the 82nd Airborne:

“The 82nd Airborne Division is an airborne infantry division of the United States Army, specializing in parachute assault operations into denied areas with a U.S. Department of Defense requirement to 'respond to crisis contingencies anywhere in the world within 18 hours.'"

From 2007 to 2009, Aaron flew dozens of missions, some to Iraq, others to locations he could never talk about. When he was honorably discharged, his body was a wreck from clandestine, short-distance drops in the dark. His battle-scarred mind wasn't much better.

He flirted with homelessness for awhile, but two things happened: First, he spent some time recovering in the home of his longtime friend, and then, members of the community stepped forward to get him back on his feet, including providing an apartment and an operable car so he could get to work.

Aaron is now happily married to his Coeur d’Alene High School sweetheart, Kelsey. They have two beautiful children, Emma and Jack. They live near Sacramento and Aaron has a terrific job, managing well-drilling operations.

He was on a Father’s Day phone call with his adopted parents and, upon learning that his favorite bald guy was going to be in Sunday’s parade, Aaron asked a favor: “Will you please carry the 82nd Airborne flag and have someone take a picture for me? It would mean more than you could possibly know.”

The Fourth of July parade down Sherman Avenue will honor all our glorious veterans.

The flag is for one hero in particular.