The cost of freedom on Memorial Day
In honor of fallen Veterans Swan Valley residents Barbara Brown, widow of Army Brigadier General Gary Brown, Dennis Jette, Army Veteran and Jeff Swenson, US Marine Veteran cast the Memorial Day wreath off the Cold Creek Bridge on May 30. Grace Siloti, owner of Grace's Greenhouse, made and donated the wreath. Mission Mountains Mercantile provided coffee and donuts and the American Legion Post 63 Women's Auxiliary decorated the bridge for the commemoration.
Veterans, their families and members of the community joined together Monday at 11 a.m. at the Seeley Lake Veterans Memorial Garden for a ceremony hosted by the Veterans and Families of Seeley Lake.
Swan Valley Community Members gathered on the Cold Creek Bridge North of Condon to commemorate fallen veterans. American Legion Post 63 Commander Edward Klassen read the history of Memorial Day to the audience before the wreath was tossed into Cold Creek.
Veterans and Families of Seeley Lake President Barbara Knopp led the Seeley Lake ceremony. "We must pause, if only for a moment, to remember our veterans' sacrifices. If they could speak they would most likely say 'Make the most of your freedom privileges. We purchased them with our lives.'"
Owner of Grace's Greenhouse Grace Siloti poses with the hand-made, all-natural wreath she made for the ceremony. She picked the flowers Monday morning with the help of Maria Fanizzi. Siloti has been making the wreath for many years and said it is one of her favorite jobs she has ever had.
American Legion Post 63 Commander Edward Klassen with Heidi Klassen and Ray Haera at the flag commemorated the day with a 21-gun salute as Haera raised the flag from half-staff to full-staff in front of the Swan Valley Community Center. Following the ceremony, the Condon Community Church hosted a lunch for veterans and their families.
The Seeley-Swan Mountain Bell Choir playing during the ceremony in Seeley Lake. Those in attendance recognized many of the songs and began humming and singing along with the music.
Ronda Feucht and her daughter Shyanne released a bouquet of flowers from the Cold Creek Bridge in honor of husband and father Vietnam Veteran Steve Feucht.
Veterans, their families and members of the community joined together Monday, May 30 at 11 a.m. at the Seeley Lake Veterans Memorial Garden and on the Cold Creek bridge in Condon to honor and remember fallen veterans.
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