Memorial Day in Las Vegas is upon us. Usually, the city transforms into a red-and-white conglomerate of pool parties and more. But, we want to take back the meaning of the holiday and honor the people who died while serving our country.
Although many people use this weekend as time to “celebrate,” this is a sullen and somber day for many in our community.
As Norman Schwarzkopf said, “It doesn’t take a hero to order men into battle. It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle.”
According to the Library of Congress, Commander in Chief John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic designated May 30 as memorial day through issuing General Order Number 11.
He dedicated this day, “for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land,” the Library of Congress said on its website.
As some of us cook up summertime food, letting smoke billow from our grills, let’s take a moment to give honor to those who are no longer with us.
Since the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan, over 50 Nevadans have died in combat or are listed in Nevada’s Book of Fallen Heroes.
Memorial Day In Las Vegas: Remembering The Fallen Soldiers From Nevada
We want to dedicate this post to the individuals who risked and sacrificed their lives to ensure the safety and freedom of ours. Both of the wars listed above have ended, but the effects can still be felt in our own state.
According to the Nevada Department of Veteran Services, a fallen hero is defined as a “Nevadan serving in the military . . . who becomes a casualty ‘in action,’ as a direct result of hostile action, or is the victim of a terrorist activity (see below for definition of In-Action and Nevadan).”
We send healing and honor to the families of those who’ve fallen, and we wish gratitude as Memorial Day comes upon us.
Below are the names of local heroes who died in combat or died “as a result of a combat theater-related injury or disease within one year of returning from theater.”
