Memorial Day ceremony draws hundreds to veterans cemetery

By Nikki Villoria

Monday, May 30, 2011 | 8:09 p.m.

Thousands of American flags covered the lawn Monday as hundreds of people gathered at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City to honor past and present members of the military.

Hosted by the Catholic War Veterans, Post 1947 and Auxiliary, the ceremony was a poignant remembrance and recognition of those who sacrificed their lives.

“This is a day that we pay tribute to our fellow citizens that made the ultimate sacrifice so that the rest of us can be here today,” said Rep. Shelley Berkley. “This is the day that we also speak and thank and pray for their family members and loved ones for having made that sacrifice, along with their serviceman or woman, and have a hole in their heart for the rest of their lives for their loss for our nation.”

Chairs filled the chapel at the cemetery and overflowed to both sides of the patio. People stood outside the doors and lined against the walls as speakers shared words of remembrance and gratitude.

Among the speakers were Sens. Harry Reid and Dean Heller, Rep. Joe Heck and Boulder City Mayor Roger Tobler.

“The graves around us, at Arlington and at cemeteries around the world serve to remind us that freedom isn’t free, it has a cost, and I can’t talk about that cost without also asking you to remember our gold star families who stood strong through adversity … We will never truly know the depths of their pain but we should all share in their grief,” Heck said.

During the ceremony, speakers stood to share personal stories of friends and family members. With each new speech, more tears came to the eyes of veterans and loved ones in attendance.

Las Vegas resident Tiffany Ferguson, who has family in the military, said one of the most touching sights of the ceremony was seeing the age range of those paying their respects.

“It’s not just the older generations that still come out, it’s a lot of younger generations out supporting,” she said.

Farideh Ghane lost her son, Alexander, at age 19 during a training practice in 2008. Alexander was a graduate of Sierra Vista High School and a Navy Seal.

“Physically, I am very broken, but mentally I am so proud,” Ghane said.

As the ceremony ended, the crowd went outside to watch the Joint Firing Honor Guard in a 21-gun salute. The rifle salute was followed by Buglers Across America playing Echo Taps and the Boulder City Veterans’ Pilot Group performing a missing man formation flyover.

“I appreciated this so much. What happened here today, it was one family and one unity and I wish that everybody lived like that every day,” said Henderson resident Peter Crooymans, who served in the military in Holland and was taken prisoner in Germany for a year.

“I’m very happy that I was here today,” he said. “I saw one big family.”