A Bonners Ferry Fourth - the parade
July 5, 2013
Troop 144 Scouts led the way in the Bonners Ferry 2013 Fourth of July parade.
By Mike Weland

For the first time in the history of this journal, I find it necessary to divide a story into two parts to adequately cover an event that didn't begin until 5 p.m. As a point of fact, this is actually a three part pictorial series, as the day's events weren't confined to the county seat. There was so much going on, I'm likely pushing to put it all on just three pages.

But it's now after midnight, following a long and exhilarating day.

Like the Eastport parade earlier, there seemed to be a bit of an extra presence by firefighters, past and present. I didn't follow celebrations elsewhere, but I've no doubt many across this nation noticed the same thing in their towns and counties.

They remembered the 19 members, mostly young, of a hotshot crew who perished just days ago fighting the Yarnell fire in Arizona, doing what every firefighter does, some professionally, many voluntarily. They run to danger as others run away, that they might save those who can't run, or save the homes and property of those who can.

Remembered, too, was the sole survivor of that team, the lookout, who did all he could to steer his team clear of danger, but lost to an implacable and merciless enemy, driven by the vagaries of nature.

Firefighter Gary Leonard, who once again coordinated this year's Bonners Ferry Fourth of July celebration, was so busy he didn't hear right away. He received a call from a Paradise Valley Fire District Volunteer, Arnold Tuttle, who asked what "we," our local firefighters, were doing to honor the loss.

On a moment's notice, and with full help, assistance and participation from every available firefighter in Boundary County not standing watch, the lost were remembered.

At Eastport, a contingent of Hall Mountain volunteer firefighters and Idaho Department of Lands firefighters, in full turnouts or dressed in full woodland gear, led a procession of all available rigs, carrying a banner of remembrance. The only firefighters not marching were driving the rigs they, and we, rely on.

That same banner was carried in the Bonners Ferry parade a short few hours later, led and followed by engines, brush trucks, pumpers and more, accompanied by a contingent of walking firefighters from every department in the county; Curley Creek, Moyie Springs, Hall Mountain, North Bench.

The U.S. Forest Service was there, so too the Idaho Department of Lands.

South Boundary, Paradise Valley, Bonners Ferry.

And they stopped.

Drivers stepped down, those walking fell into silent procession. Those watching fell silent as the names of each who paid the highest calling that every firefighter who serves accepts as "part of the job" was read.

The silence ended with the haunting skirl of bagpipes. Out of the view of most, Bonners Ferry Fire Chief Pat Warkentin stood at the pipes once again, remembering.

In the crowd, even children enthralled with excitement stood quiet, perhaps not understanding, yet, but knowing.

They stood silent, many warned by their parents to plug their ears for the moment the time of silence was to be broken by cacophony, as the driver of every fire rig present, stretched down Main Street Bonners Ferry, end to end, sounded their horns.

The din said, "you are not forgotten."

Here is a look at just some of the Bonners Ferry 2013 Fourth of July parade.