It isn't often a street's name is changed, especially a big one like a big stretch of Kietzke Lane. The original name goes way back, an early immigrant ranching family…the Kietzkes of Germany. Now the new signs are up: "Battle Born Way." At the street renaming ceremony today (Wednesday), Governor Sandoval told me, “I want Nevada to be the most veteran and military friendly state in the country, and this is just a nice compliment to all that."
They renamed a long stretch of Kietzke from Galletti Way...all the way to Victorian Street. In between is the new Northern Nevada State Veterans Home, the reason this stretch of Kietzke was renamed 'Battle Born Way.' Sparks Mayor Geno Martini says, “It just made perfect sense, right? It fits. It fits the veterans, and it fits the State of Nevada."
Up to 105 beds will soon offer veterans the highest level of skilled home care at the new home. And there's more significance in the home's street address. Martini told us, "It's at 36 Battle Born Way, because Nevada was the 36th state to be part of the Union."
It is something to get used to, but Martini says changing this stretch of Kietzke quickly passed through the city with no opposition. For Mike Miller, who served as a captain with the Marine Corps in Vietnam, it’s a big honor. He told me, "It's a great thing. It makes me feel wanted, and it gives me a lot of pride. A lot of price for my fellow servicemen and women."
Same goes for U.S. Army Vietnam veteran Raymond Scow, who told us, “This is huge. You know, for the City of Sparks to jump in and recognize and do that…that is just totally amazing."
When does the home open? The ribbon cutting is set for December 17th. That means it took just 18 months for this spot to go from sagebrush…to service.
