American Legion helps out drivers
Drivers pull over because someone’s bladder has gone red-zone.
That’s Bob Grendell’s theory about why holiday travelers who started somewhere in Montana stop at the westbound Huetter rest area between Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls. “People are ready for a break,” he said.
He ought to know. He talks to a lot of them.
For several years now, Grendell and others from Coeur d’Alene American Legion Post 14 have handed out coffee and donuts throughout the Memorial Day weekend. They bring the post’s slightly weary camper to the woodsy Interstate 90 rest area and set up not far from the restrooms.
There’s a “Free refreshments” sign on the ground and a big Legion seal on the side of the camper.
A high percentage of those walking up to the window are headed home to the Seattle area, said Grendell, 69.
Despite that market awareness, the coffee he brews is “Whatever was cheapest.”
“Starbucks we ain’t,” said the retired veteran of almost 24 years in the Air Force.
The donuts are day-old, donated by Super 1 Foods. On a cool, overcast Monday afternoon, no one seemed to mind.
One woman whose low-slung pants revealed too much of her backside became a momentary hero to a little boy by asking if he wanted a chocolate donut.
Some travelers made special requests.
“Do you have any cream-filled ones?
“Do you have any green tea?”
“Do you have juice or something like that?”
“Any cookies today?”
Those four all heard “No.” But everyone said thank you. Even the folks Grendell playfully harassed about living in traffic-snarled Seattle.
Post members typically take two-hour shifts in the camper. And by mid-afternoon, Grendell and Katy Freer – at 50, possibly the post’s youngest member – said things were on track to hand out about four dozen donuts and 100 cups of coffee Monday.
They accept donations. Grendell estimated that a typical Memorial Day take would be about $75.
“But that’s not why we do this,” he said.
Helping drivers stay alert is the big thing, he insisted. Moreover, he said it seems appropriate for this public interaction to be one of the ways his group shows the flag on Memorial Day – literally in this case, as one flies from the side of the camper.
Some travelers walked dogs on the rest stop’s grass. Others sat at picnic tables while the dull roar of whooshing traffic all but drowned out the bird chatter drifting down from tall pines.
Nobody coming up to the camper wanted to talk foreign policy. Nobody critiqued U.S. military preparedness. And, in fact, no one directly acknowledged the reason Memorial Day is on the calendar.
“Veterans helping veterans” is how Grendell characterized the American Legion’s mission.
But Monday afternoon, the order of the day was friendly small talk with strangers on the go.
“Thanks for doing this,” said a trucker with a stove-up stride.
“You have a safe trip,” said Grendell.