Gratitude for voters, U.S. Marines and veterans
Thoreson
Since I filed this column before the polls closed yesterday, no Wednesday morning election quarterbacking will be included. To all of the newly-elected and re-elected who will take the oath of office in January 2026, the decisions you’ll make are often difficult and you will not have the pleasure of making any that please everyone. If humility, grace, principle and respect accompany your time in office, we’ll be well-served. God bless America.
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With an election just past, the 250th birthday of the United States Marine Corps coming Monday, followed by Veterans Day on Tuesday, Nov. 11, I'm reminded of a lesson from my father's life.
When I go to the polls every election, I feel as if I'm honoring all who've sacrificed so much through the generations so that I can exercise that right. From the Suffragists to the men and women in uniform, all of you walk into the voting booth with me.
My father was a 22-year-old Marine, assigned to driving a supply truck in Korea at the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir with the First Marine Division. He survived that epic and historic battle. It was not until I was in my 40s and he was in his 60s that he opened up about his experience. It was harrowing to hear, but it gave me great insight into how, in that most unforgiving foreign land, my father’s lifelong patriotism and gratitude took hold.
One of the stories he shared of his experiences at the Battle of the Chosin was about the 90,000 North Korean civilians who walked out with the Marines. The temperatures were at least 50 degrees below zero and most of the refugees were not dressed for that weather. But they walked ... the elderly, the young, mothers with infants in arms.
“They voted for freedom with their feet,” my father told me, still in awe at the remembering.
To all of you in our communities who exercised your right to vote, to all who have or do serve in our Armed Forces and to my beloved Marines, a heartfelt thank you.
Semper Fidelis
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FYI: Christmas is only 50 days from now.
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Happy Main Street birthdays today to Betty Bray-Baker, Laura Gray, Donna Hodgson, Marijo Guindon, Debbie Boe, Heather Clark, Ken Brandvold and Marci Anderson. Tomorrow, Anna Rolphe, Joe Lenon, Laura Gray and Kim Wilhelm celebrate. On Friday, Rocky Watson (80!), 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 Saturday. Sunday, Jim Addis, Nancy Henry, Austin Gardner (16!), Todd Tondee, Ben Rae, Lori Sherfey, Janine Avila, Gary Ulvan, Matt Lyman and Dennis Hall mark another year. On Monday, Jeanne Norton, Beverly Pogue, Kathleen Tillman, Bret Bowers, Marlow Hendricks, Doug Eastwood, John Evans, Dale Broadsword and the U.S. Marine Corps, celebrating 250 years of honor and tradition. Marking Nov. 11 Veterans Day birthdays are Ruth Pratt, Ellen Jaeger, Tim Mitchell, Eugene Boyle, Aaron Roberts, Amy Colbert, Ruth Morrow, Kim Malar-Currie, Kelli Fahy, Heather Bryant, Keith Boe and Emilia Ovstedal.
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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 [email protected].