Memorial Day won’t be same w/o Jim

World War II veteran Jim Shepperd is among my favorite people. He has wonderful stories of his family growing up here and his interesting adventures. Many of the stories are actually true … . I thought I knew most of Jim’s stories but I learned one this week that is both touching and humorous. Typical Jim. A special part of the Memorial Day ceremonies at the Third Street docks is the laying of the wreath in the water to honor those in the military who were lost at sea.

Jim’s cousin John was lost in 1945 on a submarine in the Mariana Straights of the Northern Pacific so it’s a very personal gesture for Jim each year. I’ve seen the lovely wreaths he’s placed on the waters of Lake Coeur d’Alene but had no idea that they’re such a labor of love. Jim awakens at dawn on Memorial Day and creates the wreath from lilacs, cherry blossoms and other bright flowers from his neighborhood. He weaves the small branches and stems together so there will be no wire or pieces of metal to litter the lake bottom. When I said it was wonderful that his neighbors contribute to the effort Jim deadpanned, “They don’t know they do.”

Now that I’ve outted him, I hope the neighbors pay no mind to the esteemed member of The Greatest Generation as he goes about the gathering of the beautiful blossoms at daybreak on Memorial Day.