PressFrame

TOP
A year in the making,
Veterans' Wall celebrated

Posted: Friday, Jun 03, 2005 - 09:30:04 am PDT
By CHRIS PETERSON
Hungry Horse News

One year. One wall. And a lot of help.

"And you have what we have here today," said Bill Schulte.

Schulte was speaking of a new veterans' wall for Columbia Falls-area veterans in Marantette Park.

It all started with an idea last summer when Schulte scraped together some cash, got the OK from the city, and poured the footing for the wall's foundation.

The wall, Schulte said, realizes an idea he had to have a veterans' tribute "next to where two million people drive by and with children playing nearby."

On Monday, it was a heartfelt reality as hundreds came out to view the new wall and participate in a ceremony commemorating local veterans.

The wall has names of 92 Columbia Falls area veterans, including many of Schulte's family members. Schulte, who is the commander of VFW Post 5650, is a Viet Nam veteran. He served two tours of duty in 1969 and 1970 as a Builder 2nd Class with the Sea Bees (CB's-Construction Battalion).

"We were neither Marines nor Navy," he said. On more than one occasion, his commanding officer told them to "get their notes ready."

He was referring to their notes to home, in the event they died.

Unlike a lot of names on the wall, Schulte survived his war.

Veterans from World War II on up attended the ceremony.

Speakers at the event included state Sen. Dan Weinberg, Mayor Susan Nicosia, and state Auditor John Morrison.

Morrison, of Whitefish, recently announced he is running for U.S. Senate in an a effort to unseat incumbent Republican Conrad Burns.

"But this is not a day for politics," Morrison said, before giving his speech on the history of Veterans' Day, which has its roots in the Civil War.

The following businesses, veterans and civic leaders have all helped toward the wall project so far:

Businesses: B&F Excavating, NuPac Concrete, McElroy and Wilken Concrete, CFAC, Western Building Centers, Melby's Flooring, Flathead Electric Co-Op, Glacier Carriers, Watson Excavating, Columbia Construction.

Individual donors of either funds or labor: Terry Berardi, Laddy Lattimore, Jim Trovanhov, Ladies VFW Auxiliary, Mary Beth Arnold, Mike Stoltz, Lee Nelson, Greg Campbell, Harvey Benson, John Pemberton and Harley Bob.