Many residents took time out of their Memorial Day Weekend to pay tribute to Veterans, and most importantly, those Veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice. Services this morning, put on by Nevada’s Patriotic Council, were well attended. See our full photo gallery on the City’s Facebook page: (5) Facebook
Under the sunny sky and amid the beauty of American Flags flying in the Nevada Municipal Cemetery, this year’s featured speaker, Navy Veteran Kathy Orcutt, started by giving thanks that this year’s Memorial Service could be held after such a long past year of cancellations.
Orcutt asked all Veterans present at the ceremony to stand and be honored. She then shared a little bit about how those Veterans likely felt when they were preparing to serve.
Serving one’s country, she described, is both a proud and frightening experience. It’s not uncommon for soldiers’ families to feel both great pride and great trepidation as they send a loved one into military service.
Many families are no doubt having those feelings today in our community. At the Flag-Raising Ceremony at the Story County Administration Building, seven local youth were recognized for their decision to join the military this year.
Orcutt noted that many soldiers are deployed around the world today. “This will be the 21st year we’ve been at war,” she said of what she called the “longest conflict” in American history. Many refer to the ongoing conflict as the “War on Terror.” U.S. forces have been present in Afghanistan since 2001.
Orcutt urged the community to get to know those soldiers who return from conflict and become our neighbors. “Take the time to get to know them,” she encouraged. She also noted it is up to each of us to get to know about those who haven’t returned. “Never forget the debt we owe to those who’ve served, especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Be thankful,” she concluded, “for all of our Veterans and especially those who died serving this great country we call America.”
During the service, local Veteran Dan Bappe was honored as this year’s parade marshal.
A new addition to this year’s service was the performance of local guitarist and singer Tom Richards, who sang “Footsteps Home.”
The service concluded with the tradition of Taps. This year, Nevada High School Band members Logan Klein and Addison Lemke performed the Taps and Echo.
–-Written by Marlys Barker, City of Nevada
