Sergeants will get respect

Friday, Nov. 8, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

This Veterans Day, there will be time for sergeants.

At a 1 p.m. ceremony Monday at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, the Air Force Sergeants Association will unveil its monument in a section reserved for veterans groups memorials.

"This symbolizes our commitment to all of our fellow veterans," said Ray Kelsay, spokesman for the Air Force Sergeant's Chapter 1252, the national organization's lone Southern Nevada post that has about 2,200 members.

"It also is our way of expressing our thanks to our comrades who have passed on."

The unveiling ceremony is expected to attract about 300 people. It puts the spotlight on a military rank -- an authority position just below commissioned officer -- that often is lampooned on stage and screen and in print.

Griffith movie an example

In Ira Levin's play "No Time for Sergeants" -- it was made into a 1958 motion picture -- Andy Griffith and Myron McCormick portrayed hayseeds harried by their demanding sergeant in both the stage and screen versions.

In the Beetle Bailey comic strip, the sergeant is portrayed as a blubbery buffoon who makes Army life rough for easy-going Beetle and his buddies.

However, the local Air Force Sergeants Association paints a much gentler and more caring picture of the men and women who wore at least three chevrons on their uniform sleeves.

"We support all veterans and do a lot of charitable work, like with Child Haven and other organizations," said Kelsay, a 71-year-old veteran of World War II and the Korean War.

He said the organization decided 1 1/2 years ago to begin a drive to raise $3,000 to build the black granite monument featuring white lettering and embossed with the organization's emblem.

Among the dignitaries expected to attend the unveiling are U.S. Sens. Richard Bryan and Harry Reid, both D-Nev., and recently re-elected Rep. John Ensign, R-Nev.

In addition to that ceremony on the legal holiday honoring our nation's ex-military members, a parade will begin at 10 a.m. in downtown Las Vegas.

Several thousand people are expected to attend the two-hour morning parade that will start at Gass Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard, head north to Fremont Street, east to Seventh Street and south to Lewis and Bridger avenues, where it will disband.

"The size of the crowd usually varies, depending on the weather -- but we have been fortunate to have had good weather over the years," said Joel Cossneer, who is in his 15th year as parade director.

In the last 14 years, it has rained just three times during the mid-November event, and two of those were drizzles.

The parade will feature 1,600 marchers, two bands, two drum and bugle corps and only one horse -- the Pampered Pony.

"We're going to have the horse at the end of the parade because participants ask me all the time not put them behind the horses," said Cossneer, a 20-year Navy veteran who made two tours of Vietnam. He also acknowledged that cleanup will be considerably easier this year with just one equine entry.

Honor for Jewish vets

The parade honorees will be the Jewish War Veterans, who earlier this year celebrated their 100th birthday, and the Korean War Veterans and Women's Veterans who last year erected monuments at the veterans cemetery.

Cossneer said next year's parade will honor the veterans of the Air Force, a service branch that will be celebrating its 50th birthday.

After the parade, a party for participants will be held at American Legion Post 8. The event at 733 Veterans Memorial Drive will feature carnival rides, food donated by Binion's Horseshoe and a concert by the American Legion Band.

As part of the three-day holiday weekend activities, America West Airlines will host "Operation Freedom Bird," a program that provides 45 Vietnam veterans from Arizona and Nevada with a four-day trip to Washington, D.C.

The nine-year-old program, started by America West pilot Pat Lynch, a Vietnam veteran, includes visits to the Vietnam War Memorial and attendance at the annual Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

At 7:30 a.m. Saturday, a send-off ceremony will be held at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix. A welcome home ceremony is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. Tuesday at Concourse B, Gate 19 at McCarran International Airport.

On Sunday, the Marine Corps League will hold its annual ball at the Union Plaza. Tickets for the event that starts at 6 p.m. are $25 per person.

Also on Sunday, the Polish Legion of American Veterans Adam Kepinski Post 207 will meet at 12:15 p.m. at the Marine Corps League building, 4360 W. Spring Mountain Road. Election of officers is on the agenda.

In Henderson, the third annual Veterans Day Tribute is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday. Veterans groups, Mayor Robert Groesbeck, City Council members, Sen. Richard Bryan, D-Nev., and state Sen. Jon Porter will honor local veterans at the Henderson Civic Center Plaza and Veterans Wall. Municipal Judge Ken Proctor, a Marine veteran, will be the keynote speaker.

In non-military news, certain post offices, for the first time in Las Vegas, will be open on Veterans Day, though mail will not be delivered. The eight Post Office Express outlets in Lucky's stores will be open all holidays except Thanksgiving and Christmas, Postal Service spokeswoman Dee Dee Terrano said.

The outlets are at 3121 N. Rancho Drive, 6850 and 4801 Spring Mountain Road, 7271 S. Eastern Ave., 6140 W. Lake Mead Boulevard, 2300 E. Tropicana Ave., 4420 E. Bonanza Road and 724 S. Boulder Highway in Henderson.