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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.”

Betty Aleck/Fernley Leader

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.

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!!!

WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA – NOVEMBER 2009 We will be promoting the sale of wreaths to place at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley. The cost is $15.00 per wreath. We currently have 5,000 interments at the cemetery and last year we only had enough wreaths for 500. Our goal is to increase that amount every year. Current orders will be shipped starting November 16, 2009.

If you place an order at the WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA website, please make sure to specify the location NORTHERN NEVADA VETERANS MEMORIAL CEMETERY in FERNLEY and the sponsor group ID: NVNNVC01 so that the wreath comes to this cemetery.

At this time the WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA website does not have the capability to assign your donation to a specific individual. If you wish to donate the wreath and make sure that a specific individual receives it, you will have to order one from the WORCESTER WREATH COMPANY and take it to the cemetery.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of these wreaths will help Wreaths Across America in their mission to Remember; Honor; and Teach. These wreaths measure 20″ in diameter and feature a hand tied red velveteen bow. SHIPPING BEGINS NOVEMBER 2009 but you can specify when to have it shipped when you order at the website. Customarily shipping takes 3-5 business days so that will help you determine when you want it to ship.

If you wish to order by mail; then print out this form and send it in.