Fernley soldier killed in Iraq attack
September 11th, 2009
Gibbons orders flags to be flown half-staff Tuesday to honor fallen Fernley soldier
September 11th, 2009
Forgotten soldiers honored at NNVMC
September 2nd, 2009
FERNLEY–Although five veteran’s remains went unclaimed at an Elko funeral home for years, the Missing in America Project however, didn’t forget these soldiers and on last Friday the soldiers were laid to rest at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
An estimated 200 people attended the memorial service to remember each of the soldier’s sacrifices.
Nevada Office of Veterans Services Executive Director Tim Tetz read the names of the soldiers who all answered the call to arms, including Ernest Banks: born Aug. 8, 1938, served Aug. 15, 1956 to Aug. 17, 1858. Died April 3, 2002; James Francis Creamer, Jr., born, Nov. 17, 1938, served November 29, 1955 to Nov. 28, 1958. Died July 15, 2001; Howard Legrand Cole, born Dec. 31, 1938, served Oct. 11, 1961 to Oct. 10, 1963. Died Nov. 1, 2001; Gaylon Lee Douthitt, born Jan. 8, 1944, served Dec. 16, 1968 to Jan. 22, 1969. Died Feb. 21, 2001. Albert Ord Jr. born May 18, 1948, served June 29, 1966 to March 6, 1970, Died July 28. 2003.
The executive director indicated there are many reasons why veterans remains are left at funeral homes and the reasons the five soldiers remains were forgotten would be unknown.
But through efforts of the Missing in America Project and founder Fred Salanti, soldiers whose remains are forgotten are honored in a military interment ceremony.
Tetz indicated in Nevada, Dorothy Minor worked tirelessly to make sure the five veterans remains were laid to rest on hallowed grounds.
The ceremony began in Elko, where the veteran’s remains were escorted from that city to Fernley, by the Nevada Highway Patrol, MIAP riders, American Legion Riders from Reno, Sparks and Fernley.
When they arrived in Fernley that afternoon, a full military ceremony took place which was organized by the Northern Nevada Veterans Coalition.
The ceremony included a bagpipe player who played Amazing Grace, a 21-gun salute and the playing of Taps.
Salanti told the audience due to the economy more veterans remains are being left in funeral homes throughout the country.
Tetz said, “It’s a unique privilege and heartfelt expression of our state’s respect to be able to remember these American heroes. We will not forget them or their service to our county. We have helped them complete their final journey by at last laying them to rest in a field of honor.”
U.S. MARINE STAFF Sergeant David Killian and First Sergeant Steve
Brunner honor veterans whose remains were unclaimed at an Elko funeral
home, but were interned at the NNVMC last Friday.
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THE REMAINS OF five veterans who were unclaimed at an Elko funeral home
were laid to rest at the NNVMC in Fernley.
(Betty Aleck/Fernley Leader)
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MISSING In AMERICA Project: Last Friday the remains of five veterans
were honored at the Northern Nevada Memorial Cemetery. Pictured is a
burial procession which began in Elko and included Missing in America
Project riders, American Legion Riders from Reno, Sparks and Fernley, and
an escort from the Nevada Highway Patrol.
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FIVE SOLDIERS WHOSE remains were unclaimed at an Elko funeral home were
interred at the NNVMC. The five soldiers were Ernest Banks, James Creamer,
Howard Cole, Gaylon Douthitt and Albert Ord Jr.
.jpg)
U.S. NAVY SAILOR Jason Brown holds the American Flag during a ceremony
for five veterans at the NNVMC.
(Betty Aleck/Fernley Leader)
.jpg)
BRETT PALMER OF the Northern Nevada Veterans Coalition hands the
remains of the five veterans who were unclaimed at an Elko funeral home to
other members of the Coalition as part of the military burial
ceremony.
Lahontan Valley News – TeensForTroops
September 2nd, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
New teen group supports military families
Special to the LVN Fernley Intermediate School eighth grader and organizer of Teens 4 Troops, Ashley Crook, shows her patriotism as she and other area teens support military families while their loved ones are away on duty.By MARY JEAN KELSO
LVN Correspondent
Sometimes it takes a teen to do a big job. Fernley Intermediate School eighth grader, Ashley Crook, is just the type of teen to see a need in the community and start a new organization.
That’s how Teens 4 Troops was born. “My mom (Susan Crook) wanted me to do some sort of community service,” Crook said.
LVN Correspondent
Sometimes it takes a teen to do a big job. Fernley Intermediate School eighth grader, Ashley Crook, is just the type of teen to see a need in the community and start a new organization.
That’s how Teens 4 Troops was born. “My mom (Susan Crook) wanted me to do some sort of community service,” Crook said.
After kicking around ideas about volunteering, Crook came up with a unique plan. She, and many of her friends, had friends and family in the military.
“We have lots of relatives in a lot of different branches (of the military),” Crook said.
Her mom and she saw a need for supporting military families with incidentals required for everyday life at home while their loved ones were away fighting for the freedom of others.
“I got the idea to get other teens into it,” Crook said.
She started simply by talking to her friends that had people in the military. “They were happy to get involved.”
Teens 4 Troops entered a float in the Fernley Christmas Parade last December, and the group was off and running.
Now, Teens 4 Troops has nine Fernley Intermediate School and Fernley High School members.
Sponsored by the Veterans Memorial Cemetery Support Group of Northern Nevada and the Northern Nevada Veterans Cemetery Coalition under the supervision of Brett Palmer and Sharon Serenko, the group meets every three weeks at the Pizza Factory in Scolari’s Shopping Center.
Their next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, May 9, at 1:30 p.m.
Each teen has a specific job assignment as he or she works to assist the families and do fund raising to supply special needs to military families in Fernley.
Crook is the president and events coordinator of the group; Melanie Berumen is vice president and purchasing; Daniel Sedillo is secretary; Robert Conger, marketing director; Gilliam McCoy, event merchandising; Melissa Thompson and Stephanie Bauters, concessions and project planning; Shanna Capps, activities director; and Sharlene Hazen, advertising.
“We will be doing ongoing fund raising,” Crook said. “We go to Fernley/Reno Raceway every two weeks when there’s a race and sell light sticks,” she said. Another event the group has planned is a Sock Hop with music by Route 66 in the Out of Town Park July 25. There will be games and entertainment for the entire family. Cost will be $15 per person or $25 for two. Advance tickets will be discounted. All proceeds go to local military families.
While the group will be providing other functions, they will also be volunteering at local military events such as the Memorial Day (May 25) ceremonies at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery where they will be handing out coffee and donuts.
They are volunteering to cook hamburgers and hotdogs all day at the Veterans Motorcycle Run on June 13. Money from that event goes to the Veterans Guest House in Reno.
For more information about the group go to http://www.teens4troops.com/, call Susan or Ashley Crook at 575-4742 or email support@teens4troops.com.
MIAP – Fernley Nevada Mission
September 2nd, 2009
Fernley Mission
– article from Reno Gazette Journal
August 27th, 2009
FERNLEY–On Friday, the cremated remains of five Nevada Veterans will be laid to rest, with full military honors at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
The 2 p.m. ceremony is the first such ceremony in Nevada, according to the Nevada office of Veterans Services and will be an ongoing effort when the remains of unclaimed soldiers are identified.
The soldier’s remains were left unclaimed in a funeral home in Elko, and through efforts of the Missing in America Project the cremated remains will not be forgotten.
The remains will be escorted from Elko to Fernley by beginning at 8 a.m. Nevada Highway Patrol and carried by motorcycle rides of the POW/MIA Association of Elko and American Legion Riders of Reno, Sparks and Fernley.
The Missing in America Project is a non-profit organization that began in 2006. the organization was inspired and launched a national effort in 2007 after Wes Block, superintendent of the NNVMC in Fernley, interred the remains of 34 veterans whose remains were unclaimed in Reno funeral homes.
For more details, call the MIAP at 775-777-1000
Photos from the Fernley, NV mission
August 29th, 2009
Photos taken by Jack Jackson: http://picasaweb.google.com/gadgetman.jack/MIAPFernleyNV#
Not much to report about this mission even though I was there! It was hot – one kid fainted – lots of bikes, decent crowd, and the service was conducted with honor and dignity. In view of the heat, the speaking could have been a little shorter!!!