Veterans honored during ceremony in Boulder City

Tiffany Gibson

City officials and families gather at the Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City on Wednesday to honor veterans on Veterans Day.

By Tiffany Gibson (contact)

Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009 | 7:38 p.m.

Janie Odgers sat next to the grave of her father-in-law, an Air Force veteran, at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Wednesday as tears ran down her face.

Odgers, whose husband also served in the Air Force and recently died, was among those who gathered this Veterans Day in Boulder City to honor those who have served their country in the military.

“It’s an emotional day, but it’s a day where people remember their loved ones,” said Odgers, whose mother-in-law is also buried in Boulder City. “It feels peaceful out here. It makes me feel closer to them and brings back memories I haven’t thought of in a long time.”

Families, city officials and politicians attended the event to honor veterans and show support for troops overseas.

U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley greeted those attending the ceremony and participated in the Veterans Day parade in Las Vegas earlier in the morning.

“I don’t miss these events, and there’s a reason for it,” Berkley said. “Today we pay thanks to those who answered calls generation after generation.”

Berkley said too many veterans do not receive the medical attention they need and that a new Veterans Affairs hospital is scheduled to open in North Las Vegas in 2011.

Tiffany Gibson

City officials and families gather at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City on Wednesday to honor veterans on Veterans Day.

She also said burial benefits are not up to par and that she introduced legislation on Friday that would increase those benefits. “Families should be able to bury their loved ones in dignity and honor in this country,” Berkley said.

U.S. Sen. John Ensign, who was also in Boulder City, said he is concerned with providing more programs for veterans who are amputees. “These programs bring dignity back and bring veterans together,” he said.

During the ceremony, as members from the Nevada Opera Theatre Chorus and The Myron Heaton Chorale performed patriotic songs, World War II veteran Keneth Brown stood up and began singing along.

Brown smiled as he proudly pointed to a key pinned on his vest. Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman awarded him the key to the city in recognition of his service, he said.

Other speakers included Boulder City Mayor Roger Tobler, Carole Turner of the Nevada office of Veteran Services, Rep. Dina Titus, Bob Sharp on behalf of U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, Matt Morris on behalf of U.S. Rep. Dean Heller and Anthony Cholke on behalf of Gov. Jim Gibbons.

Henderson City Councilwoman Gerri Schroder also attended the event. “My father is buried here, so I’ve been coming out here for years,” Schroder said.

Schroder said seeing the Gold Star Mothers of Boulder City, who have lost sons and daughters in the line of duty, breaks her heart.

Tiffany Gibson

Janie Odgers visits her husband's parent's grave at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City on Veterans Day.

The ceremony also honored soldiers recently killed during a shooting at Fort Hood.

After recognizing veterans in various branches of the military, the ceremony concluded with the retiring of the colors and the playing of “Taps.”

Turner, of the office of Veteran Services, said every day is Veterans Day to her because soldiers are in harm’s way, defending the United States every day.

“It’s the veteran, not the preacher, that gives us freedom of religion,” Turner said. “It’s the veteran, not the reporter that gives us freedom of the press. It’s the veteran, not the poet, that gives freedom of speech.”