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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Plaza honors Rankin

When Kootenai County Commissioner Ron Rankin started his quest in 1997 to create a veterans memorial, it wasn’t a self-serving ego boost.

Even though the U.S. Marine, former commissioner and crusader for lower property taxes loved the spotlight and capturing newspaper headlines, the veterans’ memorial was about honoring the Kootenai County residents who fought for America’s freedom.

Rankin, who died in October, single-handedly raised all the money—more than $70,000— to build the plaza, which commemorates the honor and sacrifice of local veterans. And he was always quick to point out that not a penny came from taxes.

His wife of 55 years isn’t sure how Rankin would react to a planned Memorial Day ceremony at which the county will rename the plaza the Ronald D. Rankin Veterans Memorial. The event is scheduled for noon Monday.

“I reconcile it in my mind that if he wouldn’t have had this vision the area would be just sidewalk and lawn,” Alice Rankin said. “There would be no memorial plaza without Ron Rankin.”

The Kootenai County Commission voted to have the veterans memorial renamed in Rankin’s honor shortly after his death.

“Ron’s legacy is there,” said Kootenai County Commissioner Rick Currie. “It was his passion.”

VFW District 1 Commander Dusty Rhoads said Rankin deserves the credit for creating the memorial.

“I doubt there’s a veteran in the county that would squawk over that,” Rhoads said. “He did all the work.”

The plaza is between the Kootenai County Administration Building and the old Courthouse and includes a black marble “Killed in Action” monument that lists the names of hometown veterans who died in all the wars from the Spanish-American War through Vietnam. There’s a Hall of Heroes in the administration building’s foyer showing local Purple Heart and Medal of Valor recipients.

Laser-etched marble murals hang on the outside wall of the administration building, depicting battles from World War II through Vietnam.

Part of Monday’s ceremony will include the unveiling of a new etching, from the Iraq War.

Rankin’s daughter, Kerri Thoreson, took over her dad’s fund-raising efforts, collecting $2,350 to complete the mural that Rankin designed before his death.

The mural will be dedicated to Army Spc. Robert “Bobby” Theodore Benson, who was shot in the head and killed in November 2003 at a checkpoint in Baghdad. Benson grew up in Post Falls and Sandpoint and graduated from Spokane’s North Central High School in 2001.

The Rankin family also will unveil a gift it’s giving to the residents of Kootenai County in honor of Ron.

Thoreson said the family wants to keep the gift a surprise until the noon ceremony, but did reveal that a local Eagle Scout helped with the project. Rankin, who served in World War II and Korea, surviving the Chosin Reservoir campaign, spent 30 years volunteering to help Boy Scouts with their Eagle Scout badges.