Ken Rice of Marysville wants to make sure a hero gets his due recognition.
It’s particularly appropriate, so close to Memorial Day, when we honor service men and women who died for America.
Medal of Honor recipient Ed Freeman, 80, died recently in Idaho. The same day as actor Paul Newman.
The actor received all the press attention, Rice says.
Rice never knew Freeman, but he has the highest respect for the man.
Freeman served in the Army in Korea, took part in the battle of Pork Chop Hill, and flew infantrymen in Vietnam. He carried out 14 rescue missions during one jungle battle, for which he was awarded the Medal of Honor.
His heroism was portrayed in the 2002 film “We are Soldiers.”
“An American soldier in combat goes far from the call of duty and rescues many wounded soldiers when no one else would enter the fire zone,” Rice says. “They were told not to go in and he disregarded the danger and saved many of the wounded, making several trips in and out under heavy enemy fire.”
Then the decorated hero returns home and is forgotten, Rice says. Thank you for reminding us what Memorial Day is all about.
And we thank Rice for her his service in the Army from 1947 into 1952.
“I never was in combat,” Rice says. “I still get a tear in my eye when I hear or read a story of the brave ones.”
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Eagle Wings disAbility Ministries offers a 5k &10k Walk &Roll Run May 30.
It’s planned for 10 a.m. at Haller Park, 1100 West Ave., Arlington.
Make a donation and enjoy lunch after the race.
Feel free to walk at your own pace. Get a registration form at www.eaglewingsministries.org.
Sarah Lien, program coordinator, says Eagle Wings is a nonprofit organization in Marysville serving adults with disabilities in Snohomish County.
“Some race participants are the people who we serve,” Lien says. “There are some in wheelchairs. We also we call it ‘Roll’ because mothers and fathers run with their children in strollers.”
She says the group is called a ministry, but they don’t push religious beliefs on anyone at their events.
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There was a good turnout recently in Stanwood to raise money for cancer research.
They raised money at a party at Amigos. A band called SuPeRFeKtA gave everyone a reason to dance.
“It was amazing,” organizer Jamie McIntosh says. “We raised $2,407.”
Most everyone is touched by cancer in some way, she added.
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Let’s put monkey bars on the south end and how about two slides?
Kids have their own ideas about how playgrounds should be situated.
Students from Cedarhome Elementary School in Stanwood and Utsalady Elementary School on Camano Island meet today with Leathers and Associates from New York.
Kids will give input on how they want a playground to function at Freedom Park at Terry’s Corner on Camano Island.
The company worked with kids in Oak Harbor to design a playground there, too.
Of course it takes money. For more information on contributing to the project, go to iHeartParks.org.
Final plans will be revealed at 6:30 tonight at Camano Community and Senior Center, 606 Arrowhead Road on Camano Island.
Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451, oharran@heraldnet.com.
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