Community honors those who died in service

The movie inspires audiences.

The reality is even more poignant.

Frederick "Fritz" Niland — the real-life Private Ryan — joined the military as did his brothers Bob, Preston, and Edward Niland. The Tonawanda, N.Y. natives were soon serving their country — Fritz and Bob in the 501 and 505 Parachute Infantries, Preston in the 22nd Infantry, and Edward in the Air Force.

Within a short period, Edward was captured by the Japanese and presumed killed. Bob was killed in Normandy while storming the beaches, and Preston was killed the following day storming Utah Beach.

Like in the movie, the government was determined to track down Fritz and bring him home so that his parents would not lose all of their sons, Bryan Hult, a retired U.S. Army brigadier general and former Bonner County Veterans Services officer, told those gathered for a pair of Memorial Day services Monday.

"There was an important scene at the end of the movie where Captain Miller was dying and he said to Private Ryan, Fritz Niland: "Earn this."

"And that is what all of the men and women who have died for our counry would say to us today, earn our death, our sacrifce for this country so that the Founding Fathers, the principles of freedom will continue on for generations to come."

Hult, who served in the Indiana National Guard, flew helicopters, served in the infantry and served as a military chaplain, told those gathered for the services that all Americans need to honor and pay tribute to those who died to ensure the freedoms upon which the country is founded continue.

"My friends, we must earn the freedom that was gained for us by those who died for us," Hult said. "We honor them today. We must not be passive or complacent in what we do, to just enjoy the freedom for ourselves. It is not for ourselves. It is for the children and the legacy of the generations to come."

Hult encouraged those present to remember those who died in service to the country, to remember and honor their deaths.

"On this sacred day, we remember those men and women who are our nation's sacred cloth and uniform," Hult told the roughly 100 people gathered at Pinecrest Cemetery for the first of two community Memorial Day tributes. "They were buried underneath the flag-draped coffins so that we would remember them today for the freedoms we now enjoy."

While Veterans Day honors all who served, Memorial Day honors those who died in service to their country, Hult told those gathered.

Like those who signed the Declaration of Independence, Hult said soldiers sign their names under an oath dedicated to the country's freedom.

"Those who signed the Declaration of Independence did so for unity. They were willing to die for the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," Hult told those gathered at Lakeview Cemetery for the second of two community Memorial Day services. "The happiness was not for their own personal individual pursuit, but for the pursuit of American patriots that we could be here in freedom, to worship, to live, to love, and have children. Life for all. liberty for all, the pursuit of happiness for all."

Later, a third ceremony was held with a lunch held for local veterans with Ken Hunt, commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2453, thanking the several dozen veterans and community members for coming to the low-key event.

It is important to honor fallen veterans and to remember them and their stories, to recognize and respect the sacrifices of those who serve, he said.

Hunt recalled a veteran coming up to him one time, upset that many Americans view the day as a fun day to go boating, fishing, or spend time with family and friends at a barbecue.

"How come they're doing that?" the VFW post commander recalled the veteran asking, saying it made him angry and feel disrespected.

"Well, that's why we did what we did," Hunt said he told the veteran, speaking at a Memorial Day tribute at the VFW post following a pair of community tributes Monday morning. "So that they can go out and do that and just be citizens and have a good day. That doesn't mean that we don't take the time to remember our fellow brothers and sisters."

Hunt directed the several dozen veterans' gaze to the far wall where a half-dozen or so photos of the community's veterans adorned the wall. He then directed their gazes so eight or so rifles on the wall, each representing those used in battle to defend the country.

One, an M1 Garand rifle, was donated to the VFW by Thomas L. Spade in honor of longtime friend Paul Gertsch, who he served with in the Navy. Gertsch would go on to work as a senior design engineer and work on the super collider.

It was after passing on several of his guns to family members that he came across the Garand rifle. Having already given several guns away, Spade said he realized where the gun belonged.

"It belongs here, here at the VFW where everybody can enjoy it," Spade said, adding that it also made sense to donate it in his friend's name.

    A member of the local Marine Corps League plays "Taps" on a bugle during Monday's Memorial Day service at Lakeview Cemetery. The tribute was the second of two community services to honor those who gave their lives in service to the United States.
  

    Marine Corps League members fire off a volley as part of a 21-gun salute at a Memorial Day service at Lakeview Cemetery as they honor those who gave their lives in service to the United States.
  

    Bryan Hult, a retired U.S. Army brigadier general and former Bonner County Veterans Services officer, speaks at a Memorial Day service in Sandpoint.
  

    A flag is reflected in a headstone for Howard Bigelow, who served in the military.
  

    Ken Jacobson walks along a row of veterans' graves at Pinecrest Cemetery after attending a Memorial Day service Monday.
  

    Les Campbell, Marvalee Higgins and Mo Campbell place flowers at the grave of their great-uncles, Bud McConnell and Clarence McConnell, both of whom service in the military. The trio were among a handful of family members who attended Monday's Memorial Day service at Pinecrest Cemetery.
  

    Thomas Spade, wearing his uniform from when he served in the U.S. Navy, attends Monday's Memorial Day ceremony at Pinecrest Cemetery.