Veterans Day: Remembering what they fought for

BONNERS FERRY — George Orwell once said “We sleep soundly in our beds, because rough men stand ready in the night to do violence on those who would harm us.”

On the 11th hour of the 11th month, World War I officially ended when the armistice, or cease-fire, was signed. Now known in the U.S. as Veterans Day, the day is one to remember all those who fought for freedom, those “rough” men and women that protected us as we slept.

At the Boundary County Veterans Memorial on the library lawn, community members gathered Friday for the Veterans Day tribute.

Mark Fisk, Marine veteran and Boundary County Middle School principal, was the guest speaker and opened with a quote by J.R.R. Tolkien from his novel, “The Two Towers.”

“War must be, while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would devour all; but I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend.”

Fisk said that to this day we still defend from the destroyer from within and outside of the nation. He spoke not of the glory of war or the love of weaponry, but of what is being protected.

“There is a way of life here worth fighting for. Today, let’s remember what’s worth fighting for, you are, America is what we vets fought for.”

He reminded those in attendance that no one wants war, but “if war must be” it is to protect others.

“War shouldn’t be cavalier, but war must be waged against the destroyer,” he said.

Closing in prayer, Jake Sanders, VFW post chaplain, prayed for those currently serving and those still waging war whether physical or emotional.

In addition to Friday’s ceremony, veterans were also remembered by a local quilter. Every year Margaret Pyette makes patriotic quilts for two local veterans. This year she gave a quilt to two veterans living at the Boundary County Restorium.