Keeping memories alive: Veteran recounts father's service in World War I

Veteran Joe Kaczmar salutes during the Veterans Day ceremony on at Veterans Memorial Plaza in Coeur d'Alene on Monday.

People hold hands to chests during the Veterans Day ceremony in Coeur d'Alene on Monday.

The VFW 889 Color Guard, from left, Marc Olson, Tom Perez and Mike Mihelich, participate in the Veterans Day ceremony on Monday.

Veteran Charles Riffel rings the bell to open the Veterans Day ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park on Monday.

Veteran Norman Oss stands during the Veterans Day ceremony in Coeur d'Alene.

A statue honoring the late Bud Ford of Coeur d'Alene for his military career stands at Veterans Memorial Plaza on Veterans Day on Monday.

The hands of the Color Guard rest on their rifles in Coeur d'Alene on Monday.

Veteran Joe Kaczmar wears a jacket with an eagle and a tribute to "Fallen Heroes" during Monday's Veterans Day ceremony in Coeur d'Alene.

by BILL BULEY
Staff Writer | November 12, 2024 1:08 AM

COEUR d’ALENE — When it was time, Joe Kaczmar saluted on a cold and dreary Monday morning.

The veteran’s face was serious, almost a frown, as he stared down. On the back of his jacket was an emblem of an eagle, with the words, “In Memory of our troops” above it. The words in the circle around it read, “The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten.”

Kaczmar, a life member of VFW Post 889, won’t forget. And he doesn’t want anyone to forget those who have served their country, some sacrificing their lives.

He would have loved to have more than the 100 or so people who came out on Veterans Day for the ceremony at Veterans Memorial Plaza at McEuen Park.

“I’d like to see a lot more vets out there,” he said.

Coeur d’Alene resident Norman Oss was there.

He served with the Army in 1967 and 1968 as a tank driver in the Vietnam War. He was 18 years old, turning 19 in Vietnam.

Oss looked on with pride as he stood with his walking stick during Monday’s ceremony. He didn’t care that it was raining and about 45 degrees.

"I was going to come out no matter what, rain, shine or whatever,” he said.

Bob Smee, who served two years active duty with the Army and 20 years in the reserves from 1970 to 1992, delivered the keynote speech.

He told the story of his father, who served during World War I, joining in 1916 when he was 19 so he could go and fight in “The Great War” in Europe.

The U.S. would not enter the war until October 1917, so his father traveled from Spokane to Vancouver, B.C., said his age was 21, and joined the Canadian Field Artillery. He fought in France and Belgium for two and a half years and was wounded three times.

He survived “The War to end all Wars” that lasted four years and was known for horrific carnage that saw 40 million military and civilian casualties, including about 15 million to 22 million deaths, making it among the deadliest conflicts in human history.

“I thank each of you present here today for keeping the memory of World War I alive and part of our national consciousness,” Smee said

Krystal Skinkle, adjutant with VFW Post 889, served with the Air Force from 1989 to 1998. She was deployed to Desert Storm from August 1990 to April 1991 and said the fighting was actually over pretty quickly.

“I can’t imagine fighting like they did in World War I,” she said. “It was definitely a different world.”

But she said veterans share one thing in common: “They loved the people they fought with, or they were stationed with,” she said. “Veterans Day is an opportunity to remember those times we shared together.”