Semper fi: Blind date turns blissful life
On Saturday, we’ll be attending the Marine Corps 249th Birthday Ball, a special event I long shared with my late father, who was a founding member of the Pappy Boyington Detachment 966 of the Marine Corps League. Being in a room filled with Marines is like getting a hug from Dad.
Here’s a fun love story with beginnings at a Marine Corps Ball in November 1992. Damon Darakjy was a college student working as a valet at The Coeur d’Alene Resort. He was also a new member of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve unit in Spokane. Wanting to attend the ball but needing a date, he was talking about his dilemma with The Resort’s spa manager, who suggested he ask her friend, Jennifer Jaeger. He did and she said yes. Fast forward to August 1993 and Jennifer and Damon were both saying, “I do.” Damon jokes that a Marine in dress blues is hard to resist. My mother would likely have agreed.
In the early years of their marriage, Damon earned his degree in political science from UI and Jennifer went on to obtain a doctorate in psychology from WSU. In 1998, Damon transferred to the Idaho Army National Guard while the couple lived in Boise. In 2000, he became active duty Army as a counterintelligence special agent. Military service took the couple and their three children to four different Army bases. Damon was deployed six times, including to Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia and Jordan. In 2018, he was with the 1st Armored Division in Iraq when ISIS was defeated.
After 30 years combined reserve, guard and active duty service, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Darakjy retired from the Army at Fort Bliss, Texas, in 2021. Today, he and Jennifer make their home in Coeur d’Alene again, both continuing to serve veterans. Dr. Jennifer Darakjy contracts her counseling services to the VA. Damon is serving as commander of Coeur d’Alene American Legion Post 14.
The Darakjys are an example of what we see throughout the year, veterans who serve their country and then continue to serve selflessly in their communities. Sincere appreciation to them and to veterans everywhere.
• • •
On Saturday, Nov. 9, Damon Darakjy is the featured speaker for Rathdrum American Legion Post 154’s Veterans Recognition Ceremony honoring all veterans and open to the public 11 a.m. at Lakeland High School Commons.
• • •
Since I filed this column several hours before the polls closed yesterday, no Wednesday morning election quarterbacking will be included. I’m hoping that humility, grace and respect will accompany all of the newly elected and re-elected when they take the oath of office in January 2025. God bless America.
• • •
Happy Main Street birthdays today to Anna Rolphe, Joe Lenon, Laura Gray and Kim Wilhelm. Tomorrow, Rocky Watson, Jonesy Paul, Maggie Lyons, Tracy Akerman, John Williams, Mike Dornquast, Lauren Dornquast and Harold Howard mark their big day. Keith Allen, Joanne Wilhelm, Jens Jensen, Jeff Tucker and Aaron Birdsall will celebrate Friday. Saturday, Jim Addis, Nancy Henry, Austin Gardner, Todd Tondee, Ben Rae, Lori Sherfey, Janine Avila, Gary Ulvan, Matt Lyman and Dennis Hall will celebrate. On Sunday, Jeanne Norton, Beverly Pogue, Kathleen Tillman, Bret Bowers, Marlow Hendricks, Doug Eastwood, John Evans, Dale Broadsword and the U.S. Marine Corps, celebrating 249 years of honor and tradition. Marking Nov. 11 birthdays are Ruth Pratt, Ellen Jaeger (75!), Tim Mitchell, Eugene Boyle, Aaron Roberts, Amy Colbert, Ruth Morrow, Kim Malar-Currie, Kelli Fahy, Heather Bryant, Keith Boe and Emilia Ovstedal. On Tuesday, Faith Mitchell, Chris Arnold, Polly Johnson, Marshall Mend, Dana Ryan, Greg Gervais, Robert Lantz, Antigone Twidt, Brenda Murphy and Amanda Behringer put on their party hats.
• • •
Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email thoreson.kerri@gmail.com.
Damon and Jennifer Darakjy at Fort Bliss in 2021 for Damon’s retirement ceremony.