A lasting legacy

POCATELLO — With a wintry mix of snow and sleet pounding Interstate 86 between Rupert and Pocatello, everyone was telling Ellen Pherigo to postpone her annual trip to the Gate City to deliver treats to the Veterans Administration clinic.

Instead, the spry and enthusiastic woman braved the elements and made the trek, arriving at the Pocatello Veterans Administration Outpatient Clinic earlier this month to deliver baskets full of goodies and — of course — apples.

“Everybody told me not to come,” Pherigo said with glee. “But I’m here. … I’m going to be here because I said I would be here.”

Pherigo and her late husband, Charlie, who served in the U.S. Air Force under Gen. Douglas McArthur, have delivered baskets of treats and apples to the Pocatello VA Clinic since 2004. Even after Charlie passed away in July 2014, Ellen has kept his tradition and legacy alive.

Ellen, aided by the DesFosses family, set baskets filled with dozens of soft candies on the counter of the clinic’s lobby. Attached to each little candy-filled baggy was a note that read, “Merry Christmas and thank you for your service. In memory of Air Force veteran Charlie, ‘The Apple Man.’”

The Pherigos’ tradition began when Charlie, who utilized the VA Clinic, noticed that many of the patients would be sad around Christmas.

He and Ellen decided to cheer them up.

“He was just concerned,” Ellen said. “We love apples, and we know they’re healthy, so we used to bring a case of apples to the staff. … Then Charlie said, ‘You know, I think we need to do something more.’ So then we put together the baskets.”

For 10 years, Ellen and Charlie drove a little over an hour to Pocatello from their home in Rupert to deliver the baskets. When Charlie passed away, Paul and Monica DesFosses and their children stepped up to help Ellen carry on Charlie’s gift.

“We think it’s very important because we think the veterans are very important,” Ellen said. “And knowing that somebody cares consistently makes a difference to the veterans and to the staff and to all of us that love Charlie. He was very enthusiastic about his Air Force career. It meant a lot to him.”

Paul DesFosses is the son of the family friend who encouraged the Pherigos to move to Idaho. It was his big, 1990 Cadillac DeVille that got her to Pocatello safely.

“I couldn’t do this without Paul and his family,” Ellen said. “I really appreciate the fact that they’ve taken up the cause and helped us do this so we can honor Charlie’s memory and do what we can to remember the veterans that help keep us safe.”

Ellen Pherigo, center, is joined by Peter DesFosses, left, Emilie DesFosses, right, and Paul DesFosses III, top, to deliver treats to the Pocatello VA Clinic earlier this month.

Josh Friesen/Idaho State Journal

Ellen Pherigo, center, is joined by Peter DesFosses, left, Emilie DesFosses, right, and Paul DesFosses III, top, to deliver treats to the Pocatello VA Clinic earlier this month.

Josh Friesen/Idaho State Journal