84°F
weather icon Clear

Ceremony recognizes Special Forces soldiers

Updated May 30, 2013 - 6:48 am

Flags fluttered, hundreds of motorcycle engines rumbled and people rose to their feet as the presentation of the colors commenced, kicking off this year’s Memorial Day ceremony at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City.

Organized mainly by Special Forces Association Chapter 51, Sunday morning’s program included memorial wreath presentations and prayers by Green Beret and motorcyclist representatives.

A memorial to those killed in action was made, which gave a count of the number of Special Forces soldiers who have lost their lives since 1960. The count since last Memorial Day was 12, Chapter President Al Hendley noted in his speech.

Three generations of Green Berets were represented at the ceremony: retired Lt. Col. Hendley from the Vietnam War, retired Col. Sully de Fontaine from World War II and an active-duty Green Beret, who asked to not be identified.

Hundreds of members of local motorcycle clubs took part in the motorcycle procession, which began on the Arizona side of Hoover Dam.

Rider Kathryn Cooper said she was proud to be part of it. She was there to honor her father, who is buried at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Flags were attached to motorcycles and people were standing on the sides of the highway waving, she said.

The annual Memorial Day service is only a small part of what Chapter 51 does to support active-duty soldiers and veterans. It provides financial support to wounded soldiers and holds activities throughout the year for soldiers, such as picnics, holiday get-togethers and group breakfasts, Hendley said.

The SFA Chapter 51 Ladies Auxiliary helps encourage active-duty soldiers by sending quilts and casino-donated items such as playing cards to Iraq and Afghanistan. They have also sent school supplies to an all-girls school in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Chapter representative Bill Anton said he was proud of Sunday’s event.

“It’s all harmonious because we’re all celebrating Memorial Day and those who have passed on,” he said. “We have a common goal in that.”

Shane Patton, a U.S. Navy SEAL who graduated from Boulder City High in 2000 and was killed in Afghanistan five years later, is buried at the cemetery.

MOST READ
LISTEN TO THE TOP FIVE HERE
THE LATEST
Toll Brothers gets split decision

The development of the area near Boulder Creek Golf Course known as Tract 350 (the sale of which is slated to pay for the majority of the planned replacement for the aging municipal pool) may have hit a snag last week as the planning commission voted 5-1 to deny the developers’ request to build houses closer to the street than is allowed under current law.

Council gives nod to 185 new hangars

There is at least one part of Boulder City that is set to see growth in the coming years. A lot of growth.

Boulder City ready to celebrate America

Boulder City resident James Cracolici may have put it best when he called the annual July 4 Damboree, “The crown jewel of all events held in Boulder City.”

BC can ban backyard breeders

Although there is nothing on any city agenda yet, the resolution of the issue of whether pet breeding will be allowed in Boulder City took a huge step forward last week as Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford released an official opinion on the intent and limitations of state law that had been requested by city staff last year.

Completion dates for two road projects pushed back

Mayor Joe Hardy tacitly acknowledged that Boulder City gets, perhaps, more than its fair share of funding from the Regional Transportation Commission, given the city’s size.

Businesses recognized at Chamber awards night

The Boulder City Chamber of Commerce’s annual installation and awards night featured many business owners in town and even had an appearance, albeit an A.I.-generated one, by Audrey Hepburn.

Parallel parking approved

Like so many other things in the world of Boulder City government, the issue of reconfiguring parking in the historic downtown area along Nevada Way, which generated enough heat to cause council members to delay a decision up until the last possible moment, ended with more of a whimper than a bang.

Ways to reduce summer power bills

Now that the thermometer is on the rise outdoors, the cost to cool homes and businesses on the inside is doing the same.