Page 8 - Desert Lightning News, Nellis-Creech AFB Edition, May 27, 2022

D8 e s e M r a t y l 2 i 7 g , h 2 0 t 2 n 2 i n g n e w s s . n e v a D a n e w s D e s e r t l i g h t n i n g n M e a wy 2 s 7 s , . 2 n 0 2 e 2 v a D 5 a Facebook.com/NellisDesertLightningNews
w ww ww w..a ae erro otte ec ch hn ne ew ws s..c co om m/ /n ne ell lliis sa affb b n e w s F a c e b o o k . c o m / N e l l i s D e s e r t L i g h t n i n g N e w s
The meaning behind the coin on a service members headstone
VA national cemeteries to host public Memorial Day ceremonies after two year hiatus
The Department of Veteran Affairs’ National Cem- etery Administration will host its first public Memorial
interred in VA national cemeteries or VA grant-funded state territorial or tribal Veterans cemeteries
Have you ever been in a cemetery and
021 to limit
low Centers their safety
welcome to ay ceremo- morate the intains 155 monument
t upon the and service VA Secre- ho served, eir lives for
debt.” eath laying
emetery in Secretary m Houston ary for Me-
Courtesy photo
Day weekend from dawn to dusk. Many locations will host volunteers who will place small American flags in front of veteran headstones in the days leading up to Memorial Day.
As in years past, cemeteries with full staffs will con- duct public wreath-laying ceremonies accompanied by patriotic speeches, music, a moment of silence and the playing of Taps. Additionally, VA teams up with Carry The Load as they honor fallen veterans and service
,.
Live streaming, recorded video and photographs from many ceremonies will be shared on the National Cemetery Administration’s Facebook and Twitter
pages.
A complete list of Memorial Day events at national
cemeteries can found at: VA Memorial Day Ceremonies (https://www.cem.va.gov/Memorial-Day/).
In Nevada, ceremonies and observances (date and time) are:
Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery
1900 Veterans Memorial Dr., Boulder City, NV 89005
Beginning at 7 a.m., May 28, volunteers will place U.S. flags on the grave markers of those interred at the cemetery. Volunteers are asked to arrive at 6:30 a.m. to receive instrutions.
At 10 a.m., Sunday, May 29, the cemetery will host the annual Special Forces Ceremony. This will be in the Memorial Garden area.
At 1 p.m., Monday, May 30, the cemetery will host a Memorial Day ceremony. This will be in the Chapel area.
For more information, call 702-468-5920.
Day ceremonies since 2019.
noticed coins laying on a headstone? A coin
Ceremonies were not open in 2020 or 2
left on a headstone lets the deceased sol- tdhiers’sprfaeamdiloyfkCnOowVtIhDa-t19so. mebody stopped
byAtollpvaiysitohresirthreispyecatr. are encouraged to fol for Disease Control guidelines to ensure
while in attendance.
• A penny means you
sites in 43 states and Puerto Rico.
visited.
Veterans, families and the public are
attend in-person traditional VA Memorial D
nies held May 28 through May 30 to comme
nation’s fallen service members. NCA ma
• A nickel means you and
the deceased veteran
national cemeteries and 34 soldiers’ lots and
trained at boot camp
together.
“There is no more fitting place to reflec service and sacrifice of America’s Veterans
• A dime means you and
members than in a national cemetery,” said
the deceased veteran
tary Denis McDonough. “Here lie those w
served together in some
sacrificed and — in many cases — gave th
capacity.
us and our country. We are forever in their McDonough will preside over the wr at the New Ha•mApqsuhaireterStisatveerVyeterans C
Boscawen on Memorial Day. VA Deputy
significant because it
means that you were
Donald Remy will do the same at Fort Sa
there when that vet-
National Cemetery in Texas. Under Secret
eran died.
members with a 20,000-mile relay march across the country during the month leading up to Memorial Day.
Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery
morial Affairs Matt Quinn will attend the wreath lay- ing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific,
Courtesy photo
The tradition of leaving coins on the headstones of military
the Vietnam war, due to the political divide in the country
What happens to the coins? They are collected from the
known as the Punchbowl, in Honolulu and provide the
VA encourages all Americans to honor a fallen ser-
Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery will
men and women can be traced to as far back as the Roman kEemypniorete.SadoldrierssawtotuhledHinasweratiiaSctaoitneVinettoertahnesmCoeumthetoefray ifanllKenansoelodhieer,tHoeanwsauirieotnhetyhceouislldacnrdososfthOea“hRuiv.erStyx”into
over the war. Leaving a coin was seen as a more practical
All VA national cemeteries will be open Memorial
u t h n e c o n m e f a o r r l t y a b 4 l . e 5 a mr g i u l ml i o e n n t V o v e e t e r r p a o n l i s t i a c n s d r e l s a e t r i v n i g c e t o m t h e e m w b a e r . r s Courtesy of Montana’s Department of Military Affairs For more information, call 775-575-4441.
the afterlife. In the US, this practice became common during
gravesites monthly and the money is used for cemetery waytocommunicatethatyouhadvisitedthegravethan mhoasinttaenManecme,otrhiealcoDstaoyfcbeureiamlofonrysoaltdi1e1rsa,.omr.t,hMecoanredafoyr,
vice member by leaving a tribute on the Veterans Legacy Memorial site. It contains a memorial page for each of
contactingthesoldier’sfamily,whichcoulddevolveintoan iMndaiyge3n0t.soldiers.
14 Veterans Way, Fernley, NV 89408