Remembering

The mother of Nicholas Newby is shown at the dedication of the War on Terrorism Memorial at the Ronald Rankin Veterans Memorial at the Kootenai County Courthouse Saturday. Newby, 20, of Coeur d’Alene, who was assigned to 145th Brigade Support Battalion, 116th Cavalry Heavy Brigade Combat Team, Idaho National Guard, Post Falls, died July 7, 2011, in Baghdad of injuries suffered when insurgents attacked his convoy using an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Army Sgt. Nathan R. Beyers.
Staff Sgt. Jason Rzepa, 30, of Idaho, suffered serious leg injuries in the attack. (Photo: Duane Rasmussen)

A helmet rests on the stock of an inverted rifle, close to a pair of combat boots. Sometimes, dog tags dangle from the rifle. It is the Battlefield Cross, the symbol commemorating the life of the soldier who once used that rifle and wore those dog tags. A bronze Battlefield Cross was unveiled Saturday afternoon in the Ronald D. Rankin Veterans Memorial Plaza at the Kootenai County Courthouse. The new War on Terrorism Killed in Action memorial bears the names of the six servicemen from Kootenai County who made the ultimate sacrifice while fighting in the Middle East: Robert Benson, 20; Timothy Kiser, 37; Matthew Holley, 21; Bradley Conner, 41; Nathan Beyers, 24; and Nicholas Newby, 20/ Devin Heilman , Coeur d’Alene Press. More here.

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