KIA Memorial Dedication

“The American flag does not fly because the wind moves past it… The American flag flies from the last breath of each military member who has died protecting it.”

At 11:00 a.m. on the 28th of April, 2012, there will be a monument dedication ceremony at the Northern Nevada Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Fernley, Nevada. This monument is being dedicated to honor American Military Heroes who have been killed in action. Please join the Ghost Soldiers Motorcycle Club and the Northern Nevada Veterans Coalition for the unveiling and dedication of this tribute to those men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for family, freedom, and love of their country. The monument is also to honor those who gave their lives, and those who will give their lives, to ensure that we may live and raise our children in our great country as free men and women. If you are a veteran you know the price of freedom; if you have someone who served or is serving, this is a way to honor their service. One hour is a small part of your day to honor those who are America’s greatest heroes. Bring a vet, a friend, and your children and family to make this an event they will always remember. Join us on April 28th and let our American Military Heroes and their families know they will never be forgotten!”

Promoted by the Nevada Office of Veterans Services (NOVS), the two-day meeting will allow attendees access to experienced and well published authors who are part of the veteran and military community.

“We had so much success with the first two writing projects within the state of Nevada, we had to offer more opportunities through a conference like this for veterans and their family members,” said Caleb Cage, NOVS Executive Director. “We believe that this conference could be the catalyst for building bridges between different generations of veterans and between veterans and the broader Nevada community.”

“We had so much success with the first two writing projects within the state of Nevada, we believe this conference could be the catalyst for offering more educational opportunities through conferences like this for veterans and their family members,” said NOVS Executive Director, Caleb Cage.

The NOVS has joined forces with professors from the College of Southern Nevada in order to bring together the first conference of its type in the region. Six different noted authors have accepted invitations to serve as instructors and panelists for the two day event which will include general and breakout sessions. Biographies and qualifications for each speaker can be viewed at the NOVS website.

“This is our first undertaking of this kind and with this level of scope. The first two efforts within Nevada were very successful, but we wanted more collaboration in the military writing community and access to a wider range of experienced authors. To do this, we wanted to expand the attendance and decided to reach out to veterans from surrounding states in order to reach the 100 attendees we’d like to see. We believe they’ll be plenty of interest to make this conference successful and can create more knowledge and interaction within the writing community,” said Cage.

The conference is scheduled to be held at New York New York Hotel Casino located on the Las Vegas Strip. A full schedule of the two day event will be available on NOVS website where interested veterans and their family members can register for the event. Hotel reservations are suggested and a select number of rooms

There are no fees to attend the conference other than attendees paying for their own hotel reservations and food costs. More information and registration can be made at www.veterans.nv.gov.

The shop is at 235 Redfield Pkwy, #103, Reno Nevada ph # (775) 400 0200
Redfield is one street north of T J Max,west of Virginia St.

Hours are Mon thru Fri 9:30am-6 pm/Sat 9:30am-4pm.
Dee Goodman is the owner and can be reached at 636 2145.

Millions of veterans have been exposed to asbestos while serving the country.

Many veterans who worked in shipyards and aboard warships and submarines were heavily exposed to asbestos through standard operations.

As a result, more than 30 percent of mesothelioma victims are veterans. In addition to mesothelioma, Navy veterans account for 16 percent of asbestos-related lung cancer. To learn more about when, where, and how veterans were exposed, visit our informative veterans and mesothelioma section.

To enhance our resources for veterans, we have recently added a comprehensive index of Navy ships that have a history of asbestos contamination. In addition, the Mesothelioma Center now offers free assistance to veterans with VA claims, which can often be a complicated and exhausting process.

We have asked for a "wish list" and these are a few items they would love to have sent over.
Chap Stick, foot powder, paperback books, gum, coffee, creamer, Stay Awake, Q-Tips, Menthol Sticks (similar to Icy Hot) Sports Magazines for stats, People or other magazines, hard candies, eye drops, Bug-Off, any kind of nuts, Phone cards, (AT&T works best), disposable cameras, powdered drinks, drawing paper, shaving cream, mouth wash, hot sauce, licorice, On the Go Charmin Toilet Paper, Life savers candies, popcorn. Funny pictures from home, jokes, CD’ or DVD’s (any age, any kind).  Although appreciated, chocolate does not hold up in the heat there. You get the idea; basically small comfort items and things that bring a little bit of home to those in the field.

We heard that a soldier some where had received a small amount of grass seed, which some soldiers kept watered until they had a 6 foot patch of nice green grass to walk on.   Putting your feet on something cool and fragrant as grass at the end of day felt almost as good as being home.  Very creative I would say.

If you would like to donate any of these items and need someone to pick them up please contact Ashley @ 775-575-4742 or email us to make arrangements. If you have some great ideas, let us know so we can add them to our list. Reminder: The collection of these items will be ongoing, not just for a few weeks or month. When grocery shopping every week, please consider picking up an item or two to send to the troops.

Thank you.
Ashley

An estimated 200 people attended the memorial service to remember each of the soldier’s sacrifices.

Nevada Office of Veterans Services Executive Director Tim Tetz read the names of the soldiers who all answered the call to arms, including Ernest Banks: born Aug. 8, 1938, served Aug. 15, 1956 to Aug. 17, 1858. Died April 3, 2002; James Francis Creamer, Jr., born, Nov. 17, 1938, served November 29, 1955 to Nov. 28, 1958. Died July 15, 2001; Howard Legrand Cole, born Dec. 31, 1938, served Oct. 11, 1961 to Oct. 10, 1963. Died Nov. 1, 2001; Gaylon Lee Douthitt, born Jan. 8, 1944, served Dec. 16, 1968 to Jan. 22, 1969. Died Feb. 21, 2001. Albert Ord Jr. born May 18, 1948, served June 29, 1966 to March 6, 1970, Died July 28. 2003.

The executive director indicated there are many reasons why veterans remains are left at funeral homes and the reasons the five soldiers remains were forgotten would be unknown.

But through efforts of the Missing in America Project and founder Fred Salanti, soldiers whose remains are forgotten are honored in a military interment ceremony.

Tetz indicated in Nevada, Dorothy Minor worked tirelessly to make sure the five veterans remains were laid to rest on hallowed grounds.

The ceremony began in Elko, where the veteran’s remains were escorted from that city to Fernley, by the Nevada Highway Patrol, MIAP riders, American Legion Riders from Reno, Sparks and Fernley.

When they arrived in Fernley that afternoon, a full military ceremony took place which was organized by the Northern Nevada Veterans Coalition.

The ceremony included a bagpipe player who played Amazing Grace, a 21-gun salute and the playing of Taps.

Salanti told the audience due to the economy more veterans remains are being left in funeral homes throughout the country.

Tetz said, “It’s a unique privilege and heartfelt expression of our state’s respect to be able to remember these American heroes. We will not forget them or their service to our county. We have helped them complete their final journey by at last laying them to rest in a field of honor.”

Betty Aleck/Fernley Leader

U.S. MARINE STAFF Sergeant David Killian and First Sergeant Steve
Brunner honor veterans whose remains were unclaimed at an Elko funeral
home, but were interned at the NNVMC last Friday.

THE REMAINS OF five veterans who were unclaimed at an Elko funeral home
were laid to rest at the NNVMC in Fernley.

(Betty Aleck/Fernley Leader)

Betty Aleck/Fernley Leader

MISSING In AMERICA Project: Last Friday the remains of five veterans
were honored at the Northern Nevada Memorial Cemetery. Pictured is a
burial procession which began in Elko and included Missing in America
Project riders, American Legion Riders from Reno, Sparks and Fernley, and
an escort from the Nevada Highway Patrol.

Betty Aleck/Fernley Leader

FIVE SOLDIERS WHOSE remains were unclaimed at an Elko funeral home were
interred at the NNVMC. The five soldiers were Ernest Banks, James Creamer,
Howard Cole, Gaylon Douthitt and Albert Ord Jr.

U.S. NAVY SAILOR Jason Brown holds the American Flag during a ceremony
for five veterans at the NNVMC.

(Betty Aleck/Fernley Leader)

Betty Aleck/Fernley Leader

BRETT PALMER OF the Northern Nevada Veterans Coalition hands the
remains of the five veterans who were unclaimed at an Elko funeral home to
other members of the Coalition as part of the military burial
ceremony.

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Tuesday, April 28, 2009

New teen group supports military families

Special to the LVN Fernley Intermediate School eighth grader and organizer of Teens 4 Troops, Ashley Crook, shows her patriotism as she and other area teens support military families while their loved ones are away on duty.

By MARY JEAN KELSO

LVN Correspondent

Sometimes it takes a teen to do a big job. Fernley Intermediate School eighth grader, Ashley Crook, is just the type of teen to see a need in the community and start a new organization.

That’s how Teens 4 Troops was born. “My mom (Susan Crook) wanted me to do some sort of community service,” Crook said.

After kicking around ideas about volunteering, Crook came up with a unique plan. She, and many of her friends, had friends and family in the military.

“We have lots of relatives in a lot of different branches (of the military),” Crook said.

Her mom and she saw a need for supporting military families with incidentals required for everyday life at home while their loved ones were away fighting for the freedom of others.

“I got the idea to get other teens into it,” Crook said.

She started simply by talking to her friends that had people in the military. “They were happy to get involved.”

Teens 4 Troops entered a float in the Fernley Christmas Parade last December, and the group was off and running.

Now, Teens 4 Troops has nine Fernley Intermediate School and Fernley High School members.

Sponsored by the Veterans Memorial Cemetery Support Group of Northern Nevada and the Northern Nevada Veterans Cemetery Coalition under the supervision of Brett Palmer and Sharon Serenko, the group meets every three weeks at the Pizza Factory in Scolari’s Shopping Center.

Their next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, May 9, at 1:30 p.m.

Each teen has a specific job assignment as he or she works to assist the families and do fund raising to supply special needs to military families in Fernley.

Crook is the president and events coordinator of the group; Melanie Berumen is vice president and purchasing; Daniel Sedillo is secretary; Robert Conger, marketing director; Gilliam McCoy, event merchandising; Melissa Thompson and Stephanie Bauters, concessions and project planning; Shanna Capps, activities director; and Sharlene Hazen, advertising.

“We will be doing ongoing fund raising,” Crook said. “We go to Fernley/Reno Raceway every two weeks when there’s a race and sell light sticks,” she said. Another event the group has planned is a Sock Hop with music by Route 66 in the Out of Town Park July 25. There will be games and entertainment for the entire family. Cost will be $15 per person or $25 for two. Advance tickets will be discounted. All proceeds go to local military families.

While the group will be providing other functions, they will also be volunteering at local military events such as the Memorial Day (May 25) ceremonies at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery where they will be handing out coffee and donuts.

They are volunteering to cook hamburgers and hotdogs all day at the Veterans Motorcycle Run on June 13. Money from that event goes to the Veterans Guest House in Reno.

For more information about the group go to http://www.teens4troops.com/, call Susan or Ashley Crook at 575-4742 or email support@teens4troops.com.

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