'I'm not afraid'

COEUR d’ALENE — As the veteran walked away following their recent conversation, Theresa Hart thanked him for his service.

The man stopped and looked at Hart.

"You were worth it," he said.

Hart carries those words with her.

"I was stunned. I will never forget that," she said. "I will do my best every day to continue to be worthy of his service, of every veterans service and of my son’s sacrifice."

Hart was the keynote speaker during the Veterans Day ceremony at McEuen Park Veterans Memorial Plaza hosted by American Legion Post 14.

A small crowd of about 75 people huddled close together during the brief ceremony, kept to about 20 minutes as strong winds whipped flags and rain started to fall.

Still, veteran Thomas Iverson was proud to be there with wife Tien Iverson.

He served three years with the Navy and did two tours in Vietnam. He was there during the Tet Offensive, attacks launched by North Vietnamese forces again the South Vietnamese and the U.S. 

He said he was aboard a ship that went into the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone and provided support fire.

"Then they said we weren’t there," Iverson said. 

He said when he reflects on his time with the military, "It's kind of like a dream that I had a long time ago. Now it seems like a dream. I’m still living the dream."

Iverson stopped.

"That’s about all I’ve got to say," he said as he and his wife turned to leave.

Hart said veterans selflessly signed up to serve and protect our country, our way of life and our freedom, knowing full well the risks when they did it.

"You guys chose to write a blank check made payable to the United States of America for an amount up to and including your life," she said.

Hart paused, then added, "My son wrote that check and that check was cashed."

She  shared the story of Nicholas Newby, who was killed in action in Iraq on July 7, 2011, which led her to found the nonprofit Newby-ginnings

Nick Newby of Coeur d'Alene joined the Idaho National Guard in Post Falls in 2008 and graduated from school in 2009.

Following his military training, he deployed to Iraq with his unit in 2010. He worked convoy security and was a gunner, sitting in the turret.

Hart said they kept in contact via Facebook and Skype.

"With today’s technology, I got to talk to Nick all the time," she said. 

While her son couldn't say much about what he was doing for security reasons, he did tell his mom, "I‘m not afraid. Nothing can hurt me here. I have all the trust in the world in the Army, in my armor, in my brothers. I can't get hurt."

There was only one thing he feared: EFP, or explosively formed penetrator, capable of piercing armor.

"The good news is, Mom, I will never see one,” he said, because they were rare and expensive.

Spc. Nick Newby was 10 months into his 12-month deployment, the third vehicle in a convoy on a mission, "when the one thing he was afraid of was detonated right next to his Humvee," Hart said.

"So I lost him on July 7 of 2011," she said.

He was 20 years old.

Spc. Nathan R. Beyers, 24, of Coeur d'Alene, driving the Humvee, also died in the attack.

Hart, a registered nurse, took two months off as she tried to recover from her son's death. 

"We were just having a really hard time," she said. "We were struggling.”

They made a family decision to live on one income, "until I could figure out what I was going to do with my life without my son," Hart said.

As time passed, Nick Newby's friends and colleagues in the military, some in that fatal convoy, were struggling, too, Hart said. Some were dealing with PTSD, brain injuries, financial and relationship problems.

"And they were calling me," she said.

Hart wanted to help, and Oct. 15, 2013, Newby-ginnings was born. It serves veterans, active military and Gold Star families by providing basic necessities, resources, support, referrals and essential household and personal items. 

"Things that most of us take for granted every day," Hart said.

Last month marked Newby-ginnings' 10th anniversary, It has expanded five times in response "to great need" and has helped about 6,000 families in North Idaho and Eastern Washington.

Everything is free, supported by donations.

"I honestly think I have the best job in the whole world," Hart said.

She said the service and the sacrifice of veterans are what makes it possible for her to do what she does.

"I get to serve them. I love that I get to thank them for their service," she said. "I love that I get to say the words."

Hart asked the crowd to show their support for veterans not just on Veterans Day, but every day.

"And to all veterans, thank you," she said. "Thank you for bravely doing what you were called to do so we can freely do what we’re free to do."

  A small crowd listens during the Veterans Day ceremony at McEuen Park Veterans Memorial Plaza.
  

  Keynote speaker Theresa Hart, founder of the nonprofit Newby-ginnings, visits with veterans following Saturday's ceremony at McEuen Park Veterans Memorial Plaza.
  

  Charles Riffel, who served in the Army, walks away following the Veterans Day ceremony at McEuen Park Veterans Memorial Plaza
  

  John and Tish Deus of Coeur d'Alene attend the Veterans Day ceremony at McEuen Park Veterans Memorial Plaza on Saturday.
  

  Veteran Thomas Iverson and Tien Iverson stand together following Saturday's Veterans Day ceremony at McEuen Park Veterans Memorial Plaza.
  

  Charles Riffel looks on during the Veterans Day ceremony at McEuen Park Veterans Memorial Plaza.