Swan Valley veterans gathered at the Swan Valley Community Hall on Nov. 11 to honor all who served. Pictured front (L-R): Buzz Busby, Neil Meyer, Commander American Legion Post 63 Rick Ferguson, Pastor Bruce Rippy, John Yajko, Alan Taylor, Don Guizzo, Mike Williams, Joe Raible and Harry Wood. Back (L-R): Rodger Thompson, Bob Burke, Steve Feucht, Bill Beers, Bill Campbell, Jim VanFossen, Jeff Wisehart, Chris Owings, Bob Korn, Jim Arthur, Ron Hummel, Maynard Freyholtz, Steve Ellis, Rich White, Jay Haveman and Ron Holliday.
Members of the American Legion Auxiliary 63 hosted the Veterans Day lunch at the Swan Valley Community Hall Wednesday, Nov. 11. Pictured back (L-R): President Ronda Feucht, Tori Matthew, Treasurer Devannie Burke and Becky Anderson. Front (L-R): Polly Ferguson, Leita Anderson, Ellile Greenough, Secretary Joyce Sharp, Linda Guizzo and Marie Geisler. Not pictured Vice President Valli Bigley. The quilt behind Ferguson and Feucht was won by Ron Hummel.
SWAN VALLEY - Nearly 70 veterans and their families from the Swan Valley and Seeley Lake gathered in front of the Swan Valley Community Hall, Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11 to join with American Legion Post 63 to honor the area's veterans. The newly organized Swan Valley American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) Post 63 hosted the lunch following the flag ceremony.
After the prayer by Condon Community Church Pastor Bruce Rippy and American Legion Post 63 Commander Rick Ferguson's remarks, a few in attendance took the microphone to add their appreciation for present and past veterans' service to America. One attendee said that veterans are finally getting their due recognition, that some did not receive at the time of their service, from ceremonies for Veterans. Swan Valley resident Joyce Sharp told the group her father WWII veteran Mike Milochik was celebrating his 90th birthday.
According to Swan Valley ALA president Ronda Feucht, there was interest from the women relatives of the Swan Valley veterans to restart the inactive ALA. They wanted to offer support to veterans both home and abroad.
According to Feucht, the first meeting of the original charter of the Swan Valley ALA is dated Feb. 1980. President at that time was June Wilhelm, Vice President Veryl Styler, Secretary/ Treasurer Darlene Kaser, Chaplin Ruth Roll, Historian Betty Nebel and Sergeant at Arms Evie Anderson.
The Swan Valley ALA is in the process of becoming an affiliate of the national ALA. "I want to thank local CPA [Certified Public Accountant] Christi Barr for helping with all the paperwork (involved in starting the new ALA). It is a big effort." said Feucht.
Feucht said that they are a young group and she believes that they will grow and learn how to make a difference to help and support the veterans in the area. "We have many veterans in this area and they really appreciate a thank you and being acknowledged. Knowing they are loved is vey important, especially our Vietnam Veterans. They were not recognized and thanked when they returned home."
Seeley Lake resident and Vietnam U.S. Army veteran Rich White kept a diary of his time in the Vietnam War. He spoke at schools about his war experiences but White said that it was later in his life that he had to deal with the trauma of the war.
Swan Valley resident William Owings attended the lunch with his brother Chris who served in the Air Force. William said that he was willing to go to Vietnam in the 70s when he was in college. Owings remembered that his lottery number was 246 which meant that he could stay in school. During the Vietnam War the Selective Service used the lottery system to draft young men into service.
Many in attendance agreed with veterans Pastor Rippy and Bob Burke that said the ALA had done a wonderful job and they appreciate the effort put forth to thank veterans and their families. Feucht thanked all the ALA members who worked to make the thank you lunch a success
Women are eligible to join the American Legion Auxiliary if they are the mother, wife, daughter, sister, grand-daughter, great-grand-daughter, or grandmother of members of The American Legion or deceased veterans who served in the United States Armed Forces in American conflicts including WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, Lebanon and Grenada, Panama and Gulf War and War on Terrorism.
According to Feucht, their first organizational meeting was in November 2014. Feucht encourages those who are interested, and meet the requirements, to become members. Anyone who wants to learn more about the local ALA Post 63 can join the Swan Valley ALA Post 63 Facebook page to stay current with the group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/153140848355879/
This month's meeting will be held Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Swan Valley Community Hall. Meetings are held every third Thursday at the Swan Valley Community Hall. For more information about ALA, visit their website at http://www.alaforveterans.org
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