Condon Community Church Pastor Bruce Rippy leads those gathered on Cold Creek Bridge in prayer during the American Legion Post 63 Memorial Day Ceremony May 30.
Swan Valley residents Ronda Feucht, Katie Wright and Polly Ferguson dropped the wreath made by Grace Siloti. Their husbands were all veterans and passed away in 2018.
Pastor Bruce Rippy and his wife Carolyn Rippy pose with Diana Pyle and Patti Maurer of Condon Community Church prior to the ceremony. The church served a lunch for veterans and their families following the ceremony.
SWAN VALLEY – Nearly 50 veterans, families and community members gathered on the Cold Creek Bridge with the Swan Valley American Legion Post 63 May 30 to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice protecting the freedoms enjoyed in the United States. This Memorial Day tradition included the hand-made flower wreath dropped from the bridge to remember the fallen
Condon Community Church Pastor Bruce Rippy read from John 15:13, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."
"We think especially today of those who have purchased our freedom with their own blood. Freedom isn't free," said Rippy. "Thank you Lord that through all our generations there were those with patriot hearts to answer their country's call to arms and preserve our freedom. And for some to give their last breath because freedom isn't free."
Rippy thanked everyone who is serving today and prayed a blessing over them and their families.
"Please help us to not take for granted the precious freedom that they strive to provide for us and stand in the gap to preserve," said Rippy. "May we remember to thank all those who serve with honor and may they feel the prayers of the grateful nation sustaining them in times of danger. What we do not cherish and protect we are in danger of losing, may we never forget freedom isn't free."
As everyone stood in reverence, widows Ronda Feucht, Polly Ferguson and Katie Wright tossed the wreath into Cold Creek. Each lost their husbands and veterans of the Swan Valley in 2018. Wright's husband Rodger Thompson died April 18; Ferguson's husband Rick died Oct. 10 and Feucht's husband Steve died Nov. 19.
Following the ceremony, Wright said, "I just want to thank God for the ultimate sacrifice – sending His Son to die for us so that we can have the home of heaven to see our loved ones again. We do have that hope – Polly, Ronda and I – we look forward to that day."
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