Memorial Day activities will be lowkey at area cemeteries, while a number of groups across the region are inviting the public to their events to honor deceased who have served their country.
The Nevada Department of Veterans Services is conducting in-person, flag-in, and Memorial Day events this year, and because of COVID-9 protocols as mandated by local jurisdictions, the events will be shortened.
The flag-in falls on Saturday. According to the NDVS, as participants arrive at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley, attendees will be assigned to sections of the cemeteries for flag placement. The flag-in begins at 9 a.m.
“The cemetery will have an abbreviated ceremony,” said Brett Palmer, president of the Nevada Veterans Coalition. “Our speaker this year will be Congressman Mark Amodei.”
The Carson City native represents Congressional District 2. Amodei has served in Congress since 2011, received a commission in the U.S. Army, and served as a captain in the Judge Advocate General Corps. Locally, he has also been involved with the Fallon Range Training Complex modernization plan and veterans’ issues.
The abbreviated ceremony on Memorial Day at the NNVMC begins at 11 a.m. and at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City at 1 p.m. where Gov. Steve Sisolak will attend a short ceremony.
The Centers for Disease Controls recently issued new COVID-19 guidelines that became effective immediately. The NDVS states that people who have been vaccinated are no longer required to wear a mask in both settings, indoor and outdoor.
“In this case, you will not be required to wear a mask, if you are vaccinated,” the NDVS stated in a release. “However, as always, we are asking attendees to be respectful of those who may still choose to wear their mask.”
Churchill County will have three Memorial Day observances beginning with the Churchill County Cemetery at 11 a.m., the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe’s cemetery at noon, and the Gardens Funeral Home’s veterans’ section at 1 p.m.
Mike Terry of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1007 said flag placement at the county cemetery is at 8 a.m. on Sunday and removal is Monday at 5 p.m. He said volunteers are needed to assist with either the placement or removal of more than 1,000 flags.
Flags are lowered to half-staff on Memorial Day to honor veterans who gave of themselves in service of the United States.
The Fallon Youth Club created original thank you notes in the form of small paintings last week and volunteer Keiran Kalt delivered them to both the VFW Post 1002 and the American Legion.
HONOR FLIGHT NEVADA
A “Community Coffee” sponsored Jim4Heroes, KOH Radio News Talk, and the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa in Reno is an event to bring the community together to honor, respect, and remember Memorial Day — as it was intended.
The “Community Coffee” is Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at the Atlantis Casino’s west parking lot. Organizers are encouraging attendees to bring a chair and “tailgate together” or bring a favorite car, truck, bike, or tank for an old-time get-together. There will be free hot and cold beverages and Danish pastries. Honor Flight Nevada partners include the Blue Star Mothers, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Elks Lodge Reno, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans #1, Paws for Passengers, Patriot Guard Riders, Nevada Veterans Coalition, Quilts of Valor, and many other partners.
Authors Steve Ranson and Ken Beaton, who write military and veterans-related articles will be selling “Legacies of the Silver State: Nevada Goes to War.” Profits from each sale go to Honor Flight Nevada, and since its official roll out on Nov 11, 2020, the book has raised more than $12,000 for veterans to go on a flight.
Recently, the Washoe Republican Women’s group presented a check to Honor Flight for selling 79 copies of the book.
“Legacies of the Silver State” has been featured on every Reno television station, the program “Aging and Awesome,” a number of radio stations, major and weekly Nevada newspapers, and KFBK Radio in Sacramento. The authors have spoken to civic organizations about the book, and the stories included in the 71 chapters.
Comment
Comments