On Saturday May 29, 2010, DAV personnel arrived at the cemetery at 6:00 am. By
7:00 am there was a traffic jam to the entrance of the cemetery. Hundreds showed up to volunteer for the placement of flags on veterans graves. There were cub scouts, boy scouts, girl scouts, devil pups, bikers, families, veteran organizations and many more. It was a wonderful site to behold. In less than an hour and a half, 24,000 flags were in place. However, in one section that was just about completed, I noticed that the flags were placed at the bottom of the grave marker. The top of the grave marker is the proper place for the flags. The elderly people that worked the section became upset that the flags needed to be moved after all their hard work. A woman nearby approached and inquired what was wrong, I told her and in a matter of minutes, dozens of devil pups hit the area and reposition all the flags in a matter of minutes. Thank God for the energy and enthusiasm of our youth.
On Monday May 31, 2010, the formal Memorial Day Ceremonies took place. This year the Scottish American Military Society (SAMS) Post 777 and Auxiliary hosted this event. SAMS Post 777 and the Catholic War Veterans participated in the Presentation of Colors and Phil Esser sang the National Anthem. Attendance was phenomenal. In the nine years I attended Memorial Day Ceremonies here this was the largest crowd ever and everyone thought the same.
Keynote speakers included U.S. Senator Harry Reid, U.S. Senator John Ensign, U.S. Congresswoman Shelley Berkley, U.S. Congresswoman Dina Titus, U.S. Congressman Dean Heller was represented by Matt Morris, Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons, Mayor of Boulder City Roger Tobler and Superintendent of Southern Nevada Memorial Veterans Cemetery (SNVMC) Chris Naylor.
Veterans from every wartime period from World War II to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom were asked to stand and be recognized by all. During Congresswoman’s Shelley Berkley speech she asked her father to stand and be recognized.
She was proud to say her father is a World Page 1 of 2
War II veteran.
The program continued and recognition of the Boulder City Veterans Home Residents as well as the Blue Star Mothers, Gold Star parents, and recognition of the SNVMC Advisory Committee.
The Nevada Opera Theatre Chorus Eileen Hayes Director and the Myron Heaton Chorale performed. This is the third year they have participated at the Memorial Day Ceremony and as always a great performance enjoyed by all. Of course, the Arm Forces Medley is always a big hit and veterans from all branches would stand proud when the song from their branch of service was sung.
Phil Esser sang God Bless America. SAMS Post 777 and the Catholic War Veterans Post 1947 retired the colors. Benediction took place followed by a 21 Gun Salute and Echo Taps performed by Buglers Across America. The Boulder City Veterans’ Pilot Group did a fly over from north to south over the “Walk of Life” outside of the Cemetery Chapel.