By Mike Weland and Katie Banning
Boundary County’s oldest U.S. military veteran, Boundary County Restorium resident Eddie Belakiewicz, didn’t celebrate his centennial birthday until Saturday, October 25, but a large contingent turned out a day earlier to celebrate both his service and his birthday.
Born in the Roaring 20s, Eddie lived through the Great Depression. When he came of age, World War II was underway and he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. After the war and his honorable discharge, he went to work as a shipbuilder and raised his family.
He saw the rise of the automobile and the airplane, the advent of the space age, the early days of radio, the rise of television and then computers and the ability to order the fudge he’s so fond of via the internet. He saw U.S. Naval ships transition from coal-fired dreadnoughts and cruisers to the development of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines.
On Friday, Eddy wasn’t thinking much about his military days … he was too busy accepting the accolades of friends, veterans, his Restorium neighbors and staff.
A contingent of veterans, led by American Legion Post 55 Commander nurse Air Force Lieutenant Colonel (retired) JoAnne Danner, presented Eddie a beautiful double-decker chocolate cake with fudge icing, Ebearing the seal of the United States Navy, made with love by the Bonners Ferry Super 1 Foods bakery staff.
And then Restorium staff Eli and Krystal loaded Eddie with even more, making his a memorable 100th birthday.
