A salute to local veterans this Memorial Day

In honor of Memorial Day, I am reminded of the contributions and sacrifices made by three local veterans. Although Memorial Day recognizes veterans who have passed away – either during military service or later in life – I'm going to include a living veteran who has more than earned our appreciation for his service and sacrifice for our country.

First, I want to talk about the Veterans Memorial, which is part of the newly renovated Ainsworth Park. The memorial is the result of several years of hard work and effort by Main Street Committee members Carla Parks, Linda Rochleau and veteran Bob Kunch, and was commemorated in 2019. It is personalized by the addition of bricks with names and brief service information of veterans. If you haven't visited the memorial, please do. It is, and will increasingly be, a lovely place to sit, listen to the birds sing, breezes blow through trees, and remember those who served our country over the generations. It's also an opportunity to remember those still serving in Afghanistan and around the world. Freedom has never been free. For Vietnam veterans who never felt welcomed home, this memorial represents appreciation for your service from a grateful Sanders County.

There are three plaques that are additions to the memorial area. One is for Norm "Rawhide" Allen, designed and purchased by the Thompson Falls High School classes of 1962-1966, for whom "Mr. Allen" was our favorite history teacher. The other two recently added plaques honor U.S. Navy Captain Rodney Knutson, a current resident of Thompson Falls. The third plaque honors U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant Victor "Vic" Pirker. Each has a story worth telling over and again, and hopefully, never forgotten. The solid bronze plaques tell and signify the heroism and sacrifices of these three veterans for generations to come.

Corporal Norman Edgar Allen enlisted in the Army and volunteered for an elite parachute infantry division. During 15 months of service in the European Theater in World War II, at the age of 21, he participated in the Battle of the Bulge, specializing in reconnaissance and demolitions. As an Army pathfinder and scout, he was among the first to parachute into enemy territory. He survived a beach landing and three airborne assaults. As a member of an intelligence unit, Corporal Allen performed reconnaissance patrols, collected enemy information and road maps, made sketches of enemy territory to assist Allied forces, found and exposed enemy patrols, and obtained information from enemy prisoners of war. Corporal Allen returned home late in 1945, having participated in five major military campaigns. He passed away on May 18, 2013.

Corporal Pirker was a crew member aboard a UH-34D Choctaw helicopter flying a troop lift of Marines into Trach Tru in South Vietnam with other aircraft. On the return trip, enemy fire and declining weather forced the helicopter to fly along the shore and eventually out to sea, becoming separated from the rest of the group. The helicopter is thought to have been hit by enemy fire and went down. All aboard were lost and classified as MIA (Missing in Action). In 1975 all were reclassified as KIA (Killed in Action). Corporal Pirker was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant while listed as MIA. He has never come home.

United States Navy LTJG Rodney Knutson was shot down by enemy fire over North Vietnam in a VF 84 "Jolly Rogers" Phantom II fighter jet. It was his 77th combat mission. He sustained numerous injuries during ejection, capture, and internment. LTJG Knutson spent seven years and five months as a Prison of War of the North Vietnamese. He was released and returned to the United States during Operation Homecoming. He remained in the United States Navy, retiring in 1994 at the rank of Captain with 32 years of service. Captain Knutson and his wife, Shelle, are residents of Thompson Falls.

In each generation, some must step forward to defend this great nation. Some give much, others give all.