Pandemic heroes cruise into sunset
Members of the Idaho National Guard and the Medical Reserve Corps head off into the sunset on a cruise organized by retired nurse, Nancy Wood. The event was coordinated as a thank you to all who served and volunteered during the COVID-19 crisis
Photo courtesy of Nancy Wood
COEUR d’ALENE — Treated to a Lake CDA Cruise for an evening of relaxation and fun, 74 members from the Idaho National Guard and Medical Reserve Corps set off into the sunset on July 14.
The ship Spirit took them on a scenic two-hour cruise across the lake to Beauty Bay and back.
The event was a heartfelt thank you to the servicemen and women, and volunteers who brought needed aid during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Resident Nancy Wood, 74, is a self-described Army brat. Growing up, life around the military was just the norm. Wood’s father, brother and husband have all been servicemen.
“It’s my love for the military,” said Wood, who organized the thank-you event.
Wood hatched the plan and spearheaded the effort to show gratitude for all the hard work.
During the Vietnam era, Wood volunteered with the Red Cross and later attended nursing school. She served as a nurse for 28 years.
Now retired, she’s been a volunteer with the Medical Reserve Corps, working out of Sandpoint since 2006.
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the Idaho National Guard worked closely with the Medical Reserve, assisting with clinic operations, medical triage and vaccinations.
The effort was a massive operation requiring countless hours of manpower. Wood said the clinics constructed on the grounds of the Kootenai County Fairgrounds operated for months on end. About 600 people were treated there weekly.
Wood was motivated by all the hard work she saw, and the passion of the volunteers.
“I wanted to do this as a gift for them,” Wood said. "A number of the soldiers are being deployed to assist in fighting the wildfires in the area."
Reaching out to Katie Brodie, assistant to Gov. Brad Little, Brodie connected Wood with Lake CDA Cruises Sales Manager Kelly Vandewerker.
Vandewerker, Wood said, is the one who made all the magic happen.
“It was all The Resort. They were fabulous and they always are,” Brodie said. “And kudos to Nancy. I love seeing people in our community doing things like this.”
Info: volunteeridaho.com, cdacruises.com