'The path of a warrior'
Thomas "Beast" Ventimiglia and his wife Lisa Ventimiglia pause in front of a gravesite at Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens on Memorial Day.
BILL BULEY/Press
Veteran Bob Allen grips his walking stick at Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens on Monday.
Veterans, from left, Richard Biggar, Jeff Broadhead, David Morgensen, Bob Martin and Lew Alert raise their swords during the Missing Man ceremony on Monday at Veterans Plaza at McEuen Park.
Veteran Tim McNamara plays Taps at Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens on Monday.
Mac MacCormack salutes during the Memorial Day ceremony at Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens.
Veteran Charles Riffel, left, and VFW Post 889 Chaplain Dennis Watson salute after tossing the wreath into Lake Coeur d'Alene on Memorial Day.
Chanel Germain is joined by children Kali and Ripley as they paused before a gravesite at Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens on Monday.
Young Marine Nathan Holt rings the bell during the Memorial Day ceremony at Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens.
A couple walk away following the Memorial Day ceremony at Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens.
Barb Nelson attends the Memorial Day event at Veterans Plaza at McEuen Park.
Dennis Watson and Krystal Skinkle listen to a speaker during Monday's Memorial Day event at Veterans Plaza.
Veteran Robert Bigham serves on the Honor Guard at Veterans Plaza on Monday
Julia Mangan, left, and Stepanie Magajna place the wreath in place at Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens during Monday's Memorial Day ceremony.
Michael Quinn, commandant of Pappy Boyington Detachment of the Marine Corps League, is framed between flags as he speaks on Monday at Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens.
A flag flutters in the wind at Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens on Monday.
Veterans, from left, Bill Maroney, Dennis Dodd, Chris Spatz and Randy Weiss participate in the Memorial Day ceremony at Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens.
Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris speaks at the Memorial Day ceremony at Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens.
Don Lindberg of Hayden waits for the Memorial Day ceremony to being at Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens.
Retired U.S. Army Col. Glen Heape addresses the crowd on Memorial Day at Veterans Plaza.
COEUR d’ALENE — For Thomas “Beast” Ventimiglia, Memorial Day is not a happy time.
“It’s about remembering people I lost,” said the Marine and Army veteran.
But he tries to find comfort.
Monday, Ventimiglia and his wife, Lisa, paused and reflected before several gravesites and left a few pennies behind.
Some years they leave flowers. Others, flags.
“It’s a happier way to remember them,” said Ventimiglia, president of the American Patriots Riding Club.
Under blue, sunny skies, hundreds of flags fluttered in the wind as about 200 people attended the Memorial Day ceremony at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens.
The half-hour event was marked by salutes, prayers and speeches.
Among them was Mac McCormack, who served eight years in the Marines from 1953 to 1961.
Despite not feeling well, despite battling cancer, the 86-year-old was determined to be there.
“I back our guys,” McCormack said. “Once a Marine, always a Marine."
About 200 people also attended a Memorial Day ceremony at Veterans Plaza at McEuen Park.
“We’re honoring a lot of people that made it possible for us to be here to celebrate this day, and you can’t beat that,” said Army veteran Charles Riffel after placing a wreath in Lake Coeur d’Alene.
Veteran Robert Bigham with VFW Post 889 served four years in the Navy from 1958 to 1962.
He said many died too soon.
“They were young men fighting for our freedom,” Bigham said. “There were thousands that didn’t come home.”
Veteran Bob Allen, 83, said Memorial Day is a somber time.
“You lose your friends and that kind of bothers you,” he said at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Gardens.
Michael Quinn, commandant of the Pappy Boyington Detachment of the Marine Corps League, told the crowd they were honoring the men and women who chose to fight for safety and freedom.
“This choice often presents a difficult and challenging path. This is the path of a warrior,” he said.
Keynote speaker Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said his role models included Kootenai County’s Tommy Norris, a Medal of Honor recipient.
He said during the Vietnam War, Norris risked his life and sneaked into enemy territory to rescue downed pilots.
“Imagine doing that,” Bob Norris said.
He said America is a country and culture worth fighting for.
“The fallen men and women of our military are the fabric and culture of America," Norris said. "They are the best example of Americanism that exists. You will never be forgotten.”
Barb Nelson with Daughters of the American Revolution said she was feeling “very grateful" on Memorial Day.
Asked what it means to her, she said, "Everything. Freedom. And hope.”
