Remembering the fallen, honoring those still here

An unexpected, but highly appreciated, ceremony took place Wednesday morning in the Wreaths Across America Mobile Education Exhibit.

Three Vietnam War veterans were welcomed home and given a commemorative pin honoring their service.

"It's a great event. More vets need to take advantage of it," said retired Air Force veteran Merle Black, who did not know he would receive a pin when he visited the exhibit at Newby-ginnings of North Idaho in Post Falls.

"For all the veterans out there, it's great," he said. "They defended the nation."

The honorees included retired U.S. Army vet Leonard Olson and retired Army National Guardsman and Navy Seebee Greg Munson. They signed a display in the mobile exhibit and placed their names alongside those of other Vietnam veterans to continue to be celebrated for their service as the exhibit traverses the country. This was done in conjunction with the 13-year commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.

"Our whole mission is remember, honor and teach," said Wreaths Across America mobile exhibit driver and ambassador Bion Holbrook, who conducted the pinning ceremony. "Remembering our fallen soldiers, which is obvious by what we do with the wreaths on our veterans' headstones."

The organization honors veterans, past and present, and educates communities about the sacrifices made by America's service men and women.

The Wreaths Across America Mobile Education Exhibit is a museum on wheels. It tells the story of how the nonprofit began, the work it has done through the years and the appreciation its volunteers, leaders and partners have for veterans. Its home base is at the Wreaths Across America headquarters in Columbia Falls, Maine.

The exhibit was brought to North Idaho through the work of the Daughters of the American Revolution Lt. George Farragut Chapter.

"It's so special to get it to come out Idaho. It took a lot of work," said Daughters of the American Revolution Idaho State Regent Catherine McClintick. "The Idaho State Society DAR chapter, 100% of our chapter supports [that] we're sponsors of the Wreaths Across America, and that's a big deal. It's a privilege. We were just excited we were on their western scope last year when we got to sign up for this."

The Lt. George Farragut Chapter is seeking sponsorships for wreaths, which will be placed on veterans' gravesites in Pinegrove Cemetery in Rathdrum and the Washington State Veteran's Cemetery in Medical Lake at 9 a.m. Dec. 17, which is National Wreaths Across America Day. Pinegrove has 260 veteran graves. The Washington State Veteran's Cemetery has 5,000 veterans, including many from Idaho.

Visit wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/171175 to sponsor a local wreath.