Bonners Ferry pays tribute to veterans

In 1954 the townsfolk of Emporia, Kansas, chipped in to pay for a humble shoe cobbler’s trip to meet the president. 

It was then that Alvin King shook hands with Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Nov. 11 became officially recognized as Veterans Day. 

In the spirit of the holiday, Bonners Ferry community members held a poignant ceremony on Monday to pay tribute to the community’s veterans. 

A celebration for the end of the war to end all wars, Armistice Day began in 1918 with the World War I ceasefire. But in the decades to come, American troops would risk their lives again and again, in World War II and the Korean War. So in 1953, King set out to honor all veterans on the holiday in his hometown. Thus, the birthplace of Veterans Day became Emporia, Kansas.

The first Veterans Day parade in the little upland prairie town consisted of marching bands, baton twirlers, army fighter planes swooping and diving overhead, free meals, a dance, and most importantly, veterans from all the 20th century wars. 

“Try to imagine that small town, probably similar to Bonners Ferry, on November 11, 1953,” said Lt. Col. JoAnn Danner, the guest speaker at the ceremony held at the Boundary County Fairgrounds. “This celebration started with one cobbler’s dream.” 

Danner, a nurse in the Air Force Reserve for 20 years, supported 40 beds at a trauma hospital for U.S. Marines in her deployment to Afghanistan, triaging Marines who were dealing with explosion wounds. 

“It was the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done as a nurse,” said Danner, who has been practicing for over 50 years. 

Local quilter Margaret Pyette, a military daughter and sister, gifted a Valor Quilt to Danner for her service. On the quilt are the words “courage, honor, valor, bravery.” 

Pyette also gifted a quilt to 99-year-old Army veteran Edward Belakiewicz.

“Veterans, thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you have done for this great country,” Pyette said. “God bless you.”