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Fallen Heroes station honors Coast Guard hero, WA native
8/27/2015 12:39:52 PM

By Craig Howard
Splash Contributor

It was a winter storm that was not amenable to vessels of any kind.

Serving on Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat 44363, Seaman Clinton P. Miniken was part of a crew that received a distress call around 1 a.m. on Feb. 12, 1997. A two-man sailboat called the "Gale Runner" was being swirled about in high winds and heavy rain off the Washington coast.

The Gale Runner had lost its mast in the tumult and was taking on water near rugged shoreline formed by volcanic rock. As Miniken's rescue boat approached the imperiled sailors near shoreline, it rolled over several times. Miniken, whose crew was stationed at the nearby Quillayute River, was thrown from the deck into the churning water. 

Ultimately, a Coast Guard HH-65 helicopter from Air Station Port Angeles pulled the Gale Runner's occupants to safety just before the sailboat slammed into the jagged bank. Miniken, a native of Snohomish, was not as fortunate.

Clinton's mother, Dixie Miniken, looks back on the loss of her 22-year-old son that February morning and wonders how things could have been different.

"Unfortunately, the protocol of first responders - keep yourself safe - was not followed," Dixie said. "The weather conditions were not compatible for a small boat rescue."  

The episode would later be chronicled in a book called "The Rescue of the Gale Runner - Death, Heroism and the U.S. Coast Guard," by Dennis Noble, a former member of the Coast Guard who was at the station on the morning of the incident. 

Dixie remembers her son as an avid outdoorsman who was "outgoing, big-hearted, friendly and like a brother to many." Known for being competitive at sports and other activities, Clint "was also a gracious loser," Dixie said. 

Miniken graduated from Snohomish High School in 1992 and had been in the Coast Guard for nine months before the incident that claimed his life. He had taken courses at Central Washington University and Everett Community College in criminal justice, with a goal of working as a state patrolman or border control agent.

"Clint enlisted in the Coast Guard to gain knowledge and experience," Dixie said. "He was due to transfer to a Coast Guard school in Petaluma, Calif., in April of that year." 

This month, the Liberty Lake community will honor Miniken at a ceremony on Sept. 11 at 5:30 p.m. as the fifth installment in the Fallen Heroes Circuit Course is dedicated. The Coast Guard station is located at the Nature's Place at Meadowwood Arboretum next door to Liberty Lake City Hall.

"Seaman Miniken embodies the values of courage, selflessness and commitment we should all aspire to," said Bob Wiese, a former Marine and Liberty Lake resident who approached the city with the idea for Fallen Heroes back in 2012. "Part of our mission is to remind the community of the sacrifices these service men and women make in the line of duty. We share these stories to keep memories of these fallen alive and hopefully to inspire patrons to not take for granted what these men and women do for our country." 

Dixie, who will make the trip to Liberty Lake from the west side of the state with family for the ceremony, said her son "would be surprised at the attention but happy about the love and support from family, friends and community." 

"The Fallen Heroes project is a wonderful way for the public to be reminded of the sacrifices made by military men and women and their families," she said. "We feel honored that he is being remembered by so many and will continue to inspire all who use the circuit course." 

The Coast Guard site completes the original blueprint for the course, now covering a total of 5.54 miles. The stations include tributes to the Marines (Rocky Hill Park), Air Force (Pavillion Park), Navy (Town Square Park) and Army (along pathway on western edge of Trailhead Golf Course). 

"This entire process has been extremely rewarding," said Wiese. "I am extremely humbled and thankful to everyone who has helped to make it happen. This speaks volumes for the culture of Liberty Lake."

Wiese is quick to point out that he was part of a collective effort to raise funds, work with the city and coordinate the quintet of sites. The advisory committee includes Kristi Dodson, Amy O'Connell, Tricia Usab, Tim Homer, Jason Spinden and Kathy Whybrew. 

"The advisory committee members have all contributed ideas, labor, creativeness and time to the project," Wiese said. "It's been one of the most rewarding projects I have ever been a part of."

Wiese also expressed gratitude to the City Council, municipal staff (singling out Planning and Building Services Manager Amanda Tainio) and Mayor Steve Peterson for "their efforts, vision and professionalism."  

"They've been a huge part to the success and popularity of this course," Wiese said.  

Usab, a local attorney, initially became involved with the Fallen Heroes committee to offer legal assistance. She led the effort to select Miniken as the latest honoree.

"I have truly enjoyed getting to meet the families of the heroes that we have honored and to learn about each hero on a more personal level," Usab said. "These heroes were amazing people, each of whom touched the lives of everyone who knew them. I feel privileged to be a part of this organization and to show a small token of gratitude to these families for the personal sacrifices they have made for our country."

Like the other Fallen Heroes installments, the Coast Guard site features a variety of exercise equipment including an elliptical cross trainer, back extension, stretching polls, spring balance and stations for pullups and situps. The floor consists of the same recycled rubber matting that is part of the Town Square Park location.   

"I think the Fallen Heroes Circuit Course Stations give the residents of Liberty Lake an opportunity to get some exercise while enjoying our community and reflecting upon the sacrifices that others have made to make our country and our community so great," Usab said.

While the initial plan was to wrap up the project with the five branches of the military, Wiese said the committee has received input from the city about expanding the course to the River District on the north side of town with stations honoring fallen firefighters and police officers.  

"The idea has gained momentum and will be presented to the City Council for budget approval," Wiese said. "We fully support this concept and are grateful the community has rallied so strongly behind the project that an expansion is on the table." 

Mayor Peterson said the Fallen Heroes project has been defined by "great leadership, good, concise direction of what the mission was and asking for the city's help in ensuring it gets done in a timely manner."  

"We want to honor our servicemen in our community and this is how," Peterson said. "The city realized that the projects would take a great deal of time for fundraising the total amount, so we said, ‘Let us help with the core cost, do what you can and we will get started.' We could not be prouder to have participated."

Peterson has led a campaign to place wreaths at the various sites on Memorial Day, July 4th, Veterans Day and Christmas. He also sends cards to the families of the respective Fallen Heroes in observance of the holidays. 

"They really appreciate our community honoring their son or daughter," Peterson said. "We are free to enjoy life in our parks and safe community because of the sacrifice of these heroes. Our community has a face, a reason identified on the plaque and an area full of life in which to remember them."  

• • • 

Tips for using the course
Now that all five stations of the Fallen Heroes Circuit Course are complete, the project's founder - former Marine and Liberty Lake resident Bob Wiese - offers his advice for those seeking to utilize the stations. 

• Pick any single station and complete three full sets of 10-15 reps on each piece of equipment (25 minutes)

• Pick two stations, complete two sets at each piece of equipment while running, walking or biking between the stations (one hour)

• Run, walk or bike the entire 5.54-mile course, complete one set on each piece of equipment (1.5 to 3 hours, depending on ability)

• Work your way up to the entire course by adding another station each week

• Give a fist bump or a high five to the designated hero at each station before working out there. Doing so reminds us what it is all about, and I believe each of the honored heroes would have loved that.

• Free group workouts have started at Rocky Hill Park at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, as long as the work schedule allows. Hopefully others will be involved so it will continue on, even if some of us are out of town.

Details for the course can be found at www.llfhcc.org.  

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