Several memorial services are honoring veterans across the country, including at the Northern Nevada Veteran's Memorial Cemetery in Fernley.
It was a beautiful service that brought a lot of people to tears and reminded everyone what Memorial Day is really about.
Gov. Joe Lombardo gave a speech saying, "Their choice to serve a higher purpose, knowing it might require the ultimate sacrifice, is what distinguishes them as true heroes."
Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong describes the service saying, "It's so moving. It really encapsulates the lives, and the stories, and the memories of all of those that have fallen before us."
The service included several guest speakers such as political leaders and fellow service members. There were also traditional performances including bag pipes, trumpets, and the firing of three volleys.
President of Nevada Veterans Coalition, Rich Crombie, says that while its great many people are celebrating their three-day weekend with barbeques and family gatherings, it's important to remember why we have it in the first place, especially for the younger generation.
"They see the veterans that are here, they see these American flags and they understand 'Oh, this is what it's supposed to be.', and we just want to make sure the message doesn't get lost in all the commercialism," Crombie says.
Guest speaker Preston Sharp, Founder of nonprofit Veterans Flags and Flowers, says, "If you're not saying a veteran's name, they're going to be forgotten, and no one is going to remember them and they're just going to think about the car sales."
Sharp, now 19, has been advocating for veterans since he was 10 years old. Dedicating his organization to ensuring every single veteran in America is honored with a flag and carnation and raising awareness to help prevent veteran suicide.
