A tradition triumphed over the pandemic as Northern Nevada joined millions of Americans across the country in remembering our veterans this holiday season.
Wreaths Across America continued in 2020 Saturday morning; however, like many events, it had to adapt to COVID-19 restrictions. The event usually brings in hundreds of people to the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, but this year it scaled down. Public health measures were also in place.
Kat Miller, the Director of the Nevada Department of Veteran Services said, "It's actually conducted by the Nevada Veterans Coalition and other volunteer groups and they have worked very very hard to put systems in place to protect everybody."
Even with less attendees, volunteers and select groups were able to lay about 8,000 wreaths over every veteran's headstone.
Darin Farr with the Nevada Veterans Coalition said, "It's important to the families, you know, who have loved ones that are buried out here and it's important to us, we're the watch keepers if you will, you know, placing the wreath and saying the veterans name so they're not forgotten."
For volunteer Jane Ballek, the name was Joseph Andrew Ballek-her father, who was a World War II veteran. Ballek says volunteering is her way of honoring her father and showing gratitude for our veterans.
"They sacrificed so much for us and our freedoms that we have today," said Ballek.
