By CATHERINE ELLERTON
Moapa Valley Progress
The day dawned bright and silent on Saturday, November 10. The wind had subsided and cheers went up from around Moapa Valley as float builders ran to put the finishing touches on their entries in the 2018 Veterans Day Parade in downtown Overton. Flags were added, pictures pasted on, and signs were assembled. A celebration was to begin. The celebration of our veterans was in order.
On the way to the check-in area, the Grant Bowler Elementary School Student Council members added painted words and flags to their entry, as well as the little hats from Mrs. Viers’ kindergarten class.
At the main staging area, Darrell Moffatt explained that he had won his 1943 custom Harley Davidson motorcycle in a raffle sponsored by the VFW. The Harley was built by Steve Darnell and crew at WelderUp. Many words of wisdom were etched on the cycle, such as “Don’t Tread On Me!” “Freedom Is Not Free!” and “Kilroy Was Here.”
The Military Order of the Purple Heart, an organization out of Henderson, came to spread the word, gain some new members, and start a new chapter in the Moapa Valley. Gilbert Macias rode on the truck. He had been in the 1st Battalion of the 9th Marines in Vietnam, known as The Walking Dead.
“They said to duck and I pulled out my knife and fork,” Macias laughed as he explained how he earned his Purple Heart.
Further into the area, the Color Guard, Larry Griffiths, retired Master Sergeant in the US Army and VFW member; Darcy Bushman, Sergeant in the Army and Sr. Vice Commander of VFW Post 8336; Jerry Johnson, a US Army Vietnam veteran; and Bruce Hollinger and Josh Slight, riflemen, gathered. Boy Scout Steele Meeks carried the POW Flag. Service Flags were carried by local Boy Scouts Austin Van Dyke, Brady Monteith, Trent Nelson, Isaac Linford, and Josh Linford.
Soon the floats, bands, cheerleaders, dance squads, marching units, cars, and trucks; as well as police, highway patrol, and fire department volunteers; were lined up and ready to go.
The Cheyenne High School Junior ROTC program members out of North Las Vegas stood at attention. This is the largest Junior ROTC program in the Las Vegas area, and it was explained that the goal of the group is to help with leadership skills and improve students to be the best they can be.
The Women’s Defense and Weaponry Training Center that recently relocated to Logandale from Mesquite were also in attendance.
The thwap-thwap-thwap of Mercy Air helicopter blades reminded the crowd of the pivotal role that these machines play in military service as they performed the customary fly-over.
The Moapa Valley High School (MVHS) Band presented stirring renditions of “America” and “Grand Old Flag.” The cheerleaders and Pirate Motion dance team rounded out their entry.
The W. Mack Lyon Middle School cheer squad and dance team added enthusiasm to the parade.
Many of the businesses and organizations from around the valley were represented. VFW Elwood Perkins Post 8336, Ms. Senior Mesquite, Town and Country Estates with Uncle Sam and Rosie the Riveter, portraita artist Tammy Symons with her bay Arabian horse and cart carrying veteran Hugh Ward, the Rotary Club, and the American Heritage Girls thrilled parade goers.
The Cactus Cruisers with their super cool cars, Infowest, Boy Scouts of America, JustServe, Fusion Performance, Maverik, 4H, and Valley Environmental kept the crowd on its feet. The Lake Mead Baptist Church, Ace Hardware, The Hanson’s Class A Motorhome, Moapa Valley Telephone, Dr. Lance Robertson, Invision Eye Center, and Clea’s Moapa Valley Realty all helped to celebrate our veterans.
When the parade was over, the Moapa Valley Chamber of Commerce sponsored its annual “Welcome Back Snowbirds and Community Picnic in the Park.” Sugar’s Home Plate, Inside Scoop, Simplot, Cal’s Repair, Logandale Storage, Washington Federal Credit Union, Moapa Valley Telephone, and Moapa Valley Revitalization Project furnished the fixings for the picnic.
Throughout the luncheon, Dr. Bret Staley acted as master of ceremonies with Biker Bob Kuczera and Tony Camparetto handing out raffle prizes furnished by the Sema Show participants. The Sema Show event supports the Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial in Marseilles, Illinois.
All in all, it was a beautiful day to celebrate and honor our United States veterans for their service.
