HUCKLEBERRIES: Freedom Tree still stands tall
Fred McMurray appreciates the Freedom Tree more than anyone else in town.
On April 14, 1973, the former prisoner of war and his family sat in front of the old Freedom Tree as Coeur d’Alene celebrated his return from Vietnam with bands, flags, signs, and the key to the city.
“I’ve dreamed about this day for a long while,” the Air Force captain told the crowd 49 years ago. “I’d dream about and imagine coming home.”
On Sept. 12, 1972, McMurray was the navigator on an F4E that was shot down 23 miles from Haiphong, North Vietnam. He suffered a compression fracture of his back upon ejection from the plane and was captured 30 hours later.
He wasn’t tortured during his stay at the “Hanoi Hilton.” But he was beaten badly enough to suffer a broken nose, a busted tooth, and ruptured stomach muscles.
The 27-year-old airman was still listed as missing in action when the Freedom Tree was re-dedicated in his honor in October 1972. The Norway spruce was originally planted at the south end of Fourth Street in the early to mid-1960s to block development on Tubbs Hill.
There it stood until March 2013, when it was cut down as part of McEuen Park reconstruction.
City officials told McMurray of their plans before removing the 65-foot Freedom Tree. They promised to install a public art piece crafted from the Freedom Tree and plant a replacement on the western edge of what would become a stunning Veterans Memorial Park.
Fred, a recipient of two Purple Hearts, gave his blessing to the city’s idea and told Huckleberries this week that he was “100 percent” pleased with the outcome. He described as “wonderful” the carving by Jeff May to honor prisoners of war, featuring two eagles and an American flag.
Unfortunately, May’s artwork was damaged by vandalism and weather – and later destroyed in a studio fire in January 2019 after the artist took it home to refurbish. May carved another from a ponderosa in Forest Cemetery, a move Fred also okayed. Several of his family members are buried there.
In September 1988, Fred returned to Coeur d’Alene after serving his country for more than 20 years. He then worked another 17 years as a pilot for Northwest Airlines, retiring in 2005. Now 77, he enjoys having his wife, Judy, three children — Lisa, Christine and John — and four of six grandchildren nearby.
The Freedom Tree — past and present — remains a symbol of something Fred said he’d “taken for granted until I was captured.” He hasn’t made that mistake since Vietnam. Nor should we.
Un-penned
In this technological age of keyboards, keypads, and voicemail, it’s hard to explain the importance of a quality ink pen or a good ol’ No. 2 pencil with a soft eraser. Therefore, most won’t understand Mary Wolfinger’s sense of loss when her blue-and-white pen, with “Kootenai County Misdemeanor Prob” etched on the side, gave up the ghost last week. Mary and her refillable pen had been together eight or nine years. “It has been my constant work companion,” Mary said. On occasion, when she misplaced the pen, she was known to stop work at her Kootenai County office and ask colleagues to help her find it. Once, she thought her sister had taken the pen by mistake and wasn’t satisfied until her sibling had searched her car for it. As you can imagine, Mary has had trouble finding a replacement. But she hopes that one provided by Redal & Redal attorneys might be a suitable substitute. Stay tuned.
Huckleberries
• It slowly comes and slowly goes/four hundred thousand toes — The Bard of Sherman Avenue (“The Sound of Bloomsday”).
• While many await planting season in this Cold Spring of our Discontent, Betsy Anderson of Coeur d’Alene wonders what to do with her 15-inch Christmas cactus. The house plant’s blooms have come and gone — and are coming again. Should she pick off the dead ones? Should she stay the course? With all that’s going on in the world, Betsy’s dilemma is ordinary and refreshing.
• The first bird of spring was sighted at 12th and McFarland this week. Not a robin. Not a hummingbird. It was the extended middle finger of an older male who was out for a bike ride with his Lady Love. And the bird was aimed at a pickup driver who got too close to them.
• Bumpersnicker (on a red Jeep near the hospital): "One of the true remaining Idaho Natives."
• Fan Mail: Reader Alan Fremgen didn’t like that Huckleberry about the pickup with an anti-Joe Biden vanity plate: “I am quite surprised that you wasted space in your column last Friday to mention the ‘FJB 46’ license plate. We shouldn't be giving any attention to such disrespectful nonsense. People who choose to say these despicable things do not or should not be acknowledged. Please refrain from this in the future.”
Parting Shot
So you think THEY are not listening? Here’s a word to the wise from IT Director Val FastHorse, of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe: THEY ARE! Val was listening to talk radio Sunday when a host asked listeners to explain: “Why are we at war?” Unexpectantly, Val’s smart phone responded, “This is the best answer I could find,” along with a link to Google searches of civil wars. Now, Val worries that her phone and radio might be communicating too much. And we’ve re-entered the “Twilight Zone.”
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D.F. “Dave” Oliveria can be contacted at dfo@cdapress.com.
