By Mike Weland
For the first time in the history of this
journal, I find it necessary to divide a story
into two parts to adequately cover an event that
didn't begin until 5 p.m. As a point of fact,
this is actually a three part pictorial series,
as the day's events weren't confined to the
county seat. There was so much going on, I'm
likely pushing to put it all on just three
pages.
But it's now after midnight, following a long
and exhilarating day.
Like the Eastport parade earlier, there seemed
to be a bit of an extra presence by
firefighters, past and present. I didn't follow
celebrations elsewhere, but I've no doubt many
across this nation noticed the same thing in
their towns and counties.
They remembered the 19 members, mostly young, of
a hotshot crew who perished just days ago
fighting the Yarnell fire in Arizona, doing what
every firefighter does, some professionally,
many voluntarily. They run to danger as others
run away, that they might save those who can't
run, or save the homes and property of those who
can.
Remembered, too, was the sole survivor of that
team, the lookout, who did all he could to steer
his team clear of danger, but lost to an
implacable and merciless enemy, driven by the
vagaries of nature.
Firefighter Gary Leonard, who once again
coordinated this year's Bonners Ferry Fourth of
July celebration, was so busy he didn't hear
right away. He received a call from a Paradise
Valley Fire District Volunteer, Arnold Tuttle,
who asked what "we," our local firefighters, were
doing to honor the loss.
On a moment's notice, and with full help,
assistance and participation from every
available firefighter in Boundary County not
standing watch, the lost were remembered.
At Eastport, a contingent of Hall Mountain
volunteer firefighters and Idaho Department of
Lands firefighters, in full turnouts or
dressed in full woodland gear, led a procession
of all available rigs, carrying a banner of
remembrance. The only firefighters not marching
were driving the rigs they, and we, rely on.
That same banner was carried in the Bonners
Ferry parade a short few hours later, led and
followed by engines, brush trucks, pumpers and
more, accompanied by a contingent of walking
firefighters from every department in the
county; Curley Creek, Moyie Springs, Hall
Mountain, North Bench.
The U.S. Forest Service was there, so too the
Idaho Department of Lands.
South Boundary, Paradise Valley, Bonners Ferry.
And they stopped.
Drivers stepped down, those walking fell into
silent procession. Those watching fell silent as
the names of each who paid the highest calling
that every firefighter who serves accepts as
"part of the job" was read.
The silence ended with the haunting
skirl of bagpipes. Out of the view of most,
Bonners Ferry Fire Chief Pat Warkentin stood at
the pipes once again, remembering.
In the crowd, even children enthralled with
excitement stood quiet, perhaps not
understanding, yet, but knowing.
They stood silent, many warned by their parents
to plug their ears for the moment the time of
silence was to be broken by cacophony, as the
driver of every fire rig present, stretched down
Main Street Bonners Ferry, end to end, sounded
their horns.
The din said, "you are not forgotten."
Here is a look at just some of the Bonners Ferry
2013 Fourth of July parade.
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