United States Navy Veteran Russ Cruse will be honored as Grand Marshal during this year’s Memorial Day Services in Nevada.
“I’m usually driving other honorees around,” said Cruse, who admitted he was surprised, yet happy about being selected as Marshal. Memorial Day is an important day, he shared. “It’s the time we say thanks and remember the ones who gave it all.”
Cruse was born in Des Moines and came to Story County at age 10, living here ever since, except for his time in the military, from early 1966 to late 1985, 20 years of service.
He did basic training at Great Lakes, Ill., and then transferred to his first duty station at Charleston, S.C. “It was a destroyer, a small combatant,” he said. Later he became specially trained in acoustic analysis, and would serve in assignments all over the world.
Among the overseas places he served were Newfoundland; Barbados, West Indies; Puerto Rico; Wales; and Guam. His final post was in Hawaii at Pearl Harbor from 1982-1985, and on Oct. 31, 1985, his retirement ceremony was held on the USS Arizona Memorial. “A great memory,” he noted.
Following his retirement from the military, Cruse worked for Whitehall, which contracted with the Navy. He did Integrated Undersea Surveillance System work for them until Dec. 31, 1989, following the fall of the USSR/Berlin Wall. He then returned to Story County and to Nevada.
He and his wife, Sheila (Overmire) Cruse, who passed away in December of 2022, raised two children: Paula, who graduated from high school in Hawaii and still lives there; and his son Russell, Jr., a 1990 graduate of Nevada High School. Cruse has seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren and one of his favorite pastimes is traveling to see his family members.
He’s been a member of the American Legion for 32 years, 12 with the Nevada Legion. He and his son were both avid bowlers and are in the Ames Area Bowling Association’s Hall of Fame. Cruse even ran a bowling alley in Colfax for 20 years. He also enjoys going to car shows.
Nevada’s Memorial Day Services will be held on Monday, May 27. Opening ceremonies are held in front of the Story County Administration Building on Sixth Street, where there will be a flag raising at 9:30 a.m., along with introductions of young people who’ve enlisted in the Armed Forces.
A procession to the City Cemetery — traveling from J Avenue north to Lincoln Highway on Sixth Street and then west on Lincoln Highway to First Street — will follow the early ceremony, and a longer program at the cemetery begins at approximately 10:30 a.m.
The Patriotic Council, which organizes the Memorial Day events, asks all those attending the service at the cemetery to observe the “restricted areas” when they are choosing where to put their own lawn chairs and blankets for seating. Some areas are set aside for distinguished guests and the Nevada High School Band. The program will be followed by a luncheon at the American Legion Hall. See details on the Calendar, page 16, of this issue.
*In case of rain, the cemetery service will be moved to the Community Building OR Christy Hall at the Story County Fairgrounds.
Volunteers Needed for Flags
Can you help put flags up on Saturday, May 25?
All who can help, please meet at the Coop gas station next to the city cemetery at 6:30 a.m. After all the flags are up, volunteers will be treated to breakfast at the American Legion Post.
Can you help take flags down?
Volunteers needed on Monday, May 27, at 4 p.m. at the City cemetery to help take down flags.
–Written by Marlys Barker, City of Nevada
