Veterans to be honored at event in Henderson
People who attend Henderson's annual Veterans Day ceremony Saturday are not required to bring a box of tissues to the event, but they should have something to wipe away the tears.
"This is an incredibly emotional ceremony," said Bud Cranor, the city's communications director.
Most schoolchildren know Nevada's nickname is Battle Born because it became a state near the end of the Civil War, and the Union needed its precious metals to fund the war effort.
The city of Henderson can make the same parallel, for a different war and different metal. Henderson would be a much different place if not for World War II, thus its claim of being "born in America's defense."
Not long after America entered World War II, the federal government built the Basic Magnesium Plant, where the "miracle metal" was used to manufacture bomb casings and parts for aircraft engines and frames.
And like every other city in the nation, Henderson has sent its fair share of people to war.
More than 1,000 names are engraved on the Henderson Memorial Wall, and more names will be added.
The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at the downtown Henderson Amphitheater next to City Hall at 240 Water Street.
"This is one of our signature events of the year," Cranor said. "It's our history."
The Basic High School Marine Corps ROTC will serve as the honor guard, Cranor said. Its members will read the names that will be added to the memorial this year, and the Henderson Symphony Orchestra will perform patriotic music.
Brig. Gen. David Buck will deliver the keynote address. He is the vice commander of the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base.
Taps will sound at the end of the ceremony, a tune that probably will make people who didn't bring tissues wish they had.
Contact Doug McMurdo at dmcmurdo@review
journal.com or 702-224-5512.
