Peck shares war memory at Veterans Memorial

In freezing temperatures under a sunny sky, Libby High School’s Galen Graziano sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” to open a remembrance ceremony for Veterans Day at the recently dedicated Veterans Memorial in Riverfront Park. Dozens of community members braved the freezing weather to attend.

At the ceremony, sculptor Scott Lennard was presented with a check from the Lincoln County Veterans Memorial Foundation, representing the final payment for the memorial. The foundation has raised more than $150,000 in just less than two years in order to design, build and install the memorial in Riverfront Park.

County Commissioner-elect Mark Peck, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, spoke at the ceremony. He told the story of a man with whom he served, Paul Nguyen,whose parents fled Vietnam at the end of the war there in 1975. Nguyen, he said, represented the epitome of the American Dream. His parents came to America with nothing and built a successful business. Both Nguyen and his sister served with honor in the Air Force.

Peck was prompted to tell this story, he said, because he met a fellow veteran while on the campaign trail in Eureka. This man, a Vietnam veteran, referred to the war as “the worthless war.” Nguyen, Peck said, would differ with the man’s characterization.

Peck also commented on people who thank him for his service to this country. While appreciative of the sentiment, Peck replied with, “My service was my honor. I’ve received more from this country than I ever gave.”

The ceremony concluded with Libby High’s Nik Gier playing Taps on his trumpet.