Mustangs laud Post Falls veterans on May Day
Mason Denison, Carter Marine and Ada Snook deliver May Day flowers they made to Gerald Kirkish on Thursday afternoon. Students from Greensferry Elementary brought arrangements of handmade flowers and cards to residents of the Idaho State Veterans Home in Post Falls.
CAROLYN BOSTICK/Press
Maddison Abdurahmanov presents a handmade bouquet to Harry Dwayne Gallond on Thursday at the Idaho State Veterans Home in Post Falls.
When Ada Snook presented Ken Siirila with May Day flowers, his face lit up like a light. Students from Greensferry Elementary School brightened up the Idaho State Veterans Home in Post Falls with flowers and cards designed by the students.
Ada Snook, Lily Ratcliffe and Madalynn Hochberg divide up bunches of flowers they and their peers made for residents to enjoy on May Day at the Idaho State Veterans Home in Post Falls.
Tom Young receives a bundle of handmade flowers from Sophia Moreno to celebrate May Day on Thursday at the Idaho State Veterans Home in Post Falls.
Maddison Abdurahmanov, Harry Dwayne Gallond and Ethan Hart share a hug after Gallond was presented with a bunch of handmade flowers.
POST FALLS — The polite charm of Greensferry Elementary School students worked its magic Thursday at the Idaho State Veterans Home.
“Thank you for your service,” Ada Snook said as she handed a bundle of flowers to Army veteran Ken Siirila. His smile lit up the room.
“It’s beautiful, I love the thought and I love the kids. This is nice, it’s going to help everybody in here,” Siirila said.
The flowers quickly earned a place of honor in his room.
“I’m going to put it by my TV, so I can see them everywhere,” Siirila said.
Principal Kathy Baker said the handmade flowers and cards were part of the school’s exploratory classes in April and were delivered by fifth graders for “our dear veteran friends.”
On other trips to the veterans home, students gathered advice at the start of the school year, went trick-or-treating, sang carols and brought personalized Valentine's Day cards.
After Tom Young received his gifts on May Day, he ducked back into his room and came out with a pink flamingo.
He pressed a button and the toy began to move and music played to the delight of the students.
“I’m humbled because we have had a lot of things done for us and this means a lot to me. Their hearts are in the right place,” Young said.
One of the hardest things about grappling with health issues for Young has been the change from independence to relying on others.
“To have somebody come in and express their sentiment, I’m glad they came,” Young said. “They might not know how much it means to us.”
Originally from Oregon, between his Army career and his marriage, Young lived in California, Missouri, Colorado, Kansas and Oklahoma before ending up in Post Falls.
The students sharing joy at the veterans home made a lasting impression on Young as he placed his bouquet on a hook in his space.
“Tell those kids I’m never going to forget it,” he said.
Maddison Abdurahmanov presents a handmade bouquet to Harry Dwayne Gallond on Thursday at the Idaho State Veterans Home in Post Falls.
When Ada Snook presented Ken Siirila with May Day flowers, his face lit up like a light. Students from Greensferry Elementary School brightened up the Idaho State Veterans Home in Post Falls with flowers and cards designed by the students.
Ada Snook, Lily Ratcliffe and Madalynn Hochberg divide up bunches of flowers they and their peers made for residents to enjoy on May Day at the Idaho State Veterans Home in Post Falls.
Tom Young receives a bundle of handmade flowers from Sophia Moreno to celebrate May Day on Thursday at the Idaho State Veterans Home in Post Falls.
Maddison Abdurahmanov, Harry Dwayne Gallond and Ethan Hart share a hug after Gallond was presented with a bunch of handmade flowers.