A Poignant Memorial Service At Sunset

By VERNON ROBISON

Moapa Valley Progress

A small, but devoted, group of local residents gathered at the Pioneer Cemetery in Overton jsut before sundown on Monday evening, May 28. They were there to participate in a solemn closing ceremony for their Memorial Day weekend. Members of the Elwood Perkins Post 8336 led their annual flag retreat service to commemorate those who have fallen in service to their country.

Post official Bruce Hollinger said that this was the thirteenth straight year that this evening ceremony has been conducted on Memorial Day.
“We established this tradition back in 2005 as a way to honor our fallen brethren,” Hollinger said. “Some years the turnout from the public has been greater than others. But we do it all the same.”

The color guard, made up of VFW members in full uniform, came to attention just outside the west gate of the cemetery. Led by Officer of the Day Dennis Vance, the group marched solemnly through the gates approaching the flagpole.

Post Commander Chuck Riley, assisted by Vance, slowly lowered the colors and the two men then gently folded the flag. Vance then carried it respectfully from the grounds, flanked by the rest of the color guard.

Riley then welcomed the public in attendance explaining the devotion that the Post members have to remembering their fallen comrades.
“As long as two comrades can come together, so long will the VFW continue its mission of paying tribute to the heroic dead and helping, and giving aid to, those comrades who are still living,” Riley said. “This memorial service honors all of our fallen comrades in all foreign wars.”

Post Chaplain Larry Griffiths then gave a prayer of invocation on the ceremony. “As comrade after comrade departs this life, we march forward despite our ranks growing ever thinner,” Griffiths said.

A brief memorial followed. Post Vice Commander Ralph Healey placed a wreath as a symbol of remembrance at the foot of the nearby Veteran’s Memorial. He was followed by Junior Vice Commander Darcy Bushman who placed a white flower as a symbol of purity; Vance who placed a red flower symbolizing devotion; and VFW Auxiliary member Kathy Hollinger who placed a blue flower representing eternity. Finally, Riley placed a small American flag near the flowers as a symbol of the great nation that these bold men served.

The services concluded with a moment of silence and a silent salute from the veterans. A recording of the bugle call “Taps” was played to end the ceremony and the assembly was dismissed.

Earlier in the week, the local veterans had been busy in decorating the community for the holiday; lining State Highway 169 through Logandale and Overton as well as State Highway 168 in Moapa, with American flags. On the Saturday before the holiday, the veterans groups had placed flags on the graves of all known veterans resting in local cemeteries.

Hollinger said that there are some servicemen buried locally whom the veterans’ organizations still do not know about. He asked that if community members know of departed veterans who are not having their graves decorated at Memorial Day to please contact VFW officials to have them placed on the list.

For those buried in the Logandale ceremony contact Dennis Vance at 702-397-6304. For those in all other local cemeteries call Bruce Hollinger at 702-398-3901.