UNLV grad killed at Pentagon honored

Dick Benoit

Thursday, Sept. 12, 2002 | 9:10 a.m.

About 50 members of UNLV's interfaith community, including about 25 members of the UNLV/Community College of Southern Nevada Army ROTC detachment, gathered for a 6 a.m. Time of Remembrance service Wednesday morning sponsored by the University's Multicultural Student Affairs office.

The group, which had planned to gather at the Pida Plaza ampitheater, took shelter from a light rain on the covered steps of Frank and Estella Beam Hall for a presentation of colors, wreath laying and prayer.

Following a placement of a memorial wreath and photo of Army Lt. Col. Karen J. Wagner, ROTC detachment commander Maj. Ross Bryant briefly reviewed the career and military honors received by Wagner, who was killed in the terrorist attack on the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.

Bryant noted that Wagner was a student and ROTC cadet at UNLV, graduating in 1982 with a degree in business administration. She was serving as the Army surgeon general's deputy chief of staff for medical personnel at the time she was killed.

Prayers and a poem in remembrance of all of the victims of Sept.11 were then offered by Rabbi Jennifer Weiner, Jill Patruznick and the Rev. Bart Hucherson.

Wagner's photo and military history, along with of Sept. 11 memorabilia are to be on display this week in the Moyer Student Union

Charitable acts

Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Kelsey, son of Jesse Kelsey of Las Vegas, recently received his fifth Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal while assigned to Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kekaha, Hawaii.

Among other accomplishments, Kelsey served as his unit's chairman for the 2001 Toys for Tots campaign. His efforts resulted in the collection of more than $6,000 and 3,500 toys for less fortunate children on the island of Kauai.

In brief

His father, Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Ron Anctil, along with his mother, Sherryl, were on hand to pin on the Marine's new stripes.

Adler enlisted in the Marines in 1997 and is currently a member of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 369. He has served in Florida, California and Okinawa, Japan. He and his wife, Ilishia, are now stationed at Camp Pendelton.

Burns, son of Christina and William Burns of Las Vegas, is one of more than 10,000 Pacific Fleet sailors and Marines aboard the ships of the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Battle Group and USS Belleau Wood Amphibious Ready Group who will participate in Operation Enduring Freedom.