Area events need community’s help

Steve Ranson/LVN, file
Wreaths across America is accepting donations for both Fernley and Fallon.

 
Wreaths Across America
Wreaths Across America, one of the largest veterans events in Northern Nevada, will be conducted nationwide Dec. 18. Locally, the event draws thousands of friends and family members who place wreaths at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley, hundreds more at city or regional cemeteries.
Tom Droughon has been involved with the project for years. He said the Nevada Veterans Coalition seeks donations to buy wreaths for more than 8,500 veterans who are interred at the cemetery. At the Fallon cemetery, more than 1,300 wreaths are needed for veterans’ graves.
Droughon said the wreath ceremony at the NNVMC begins at the same time as other remembrances across the nation and around the world at American cemeteries. The 9 a.m. time in Fernley coincides with the noon start at the Arlington National Cemetery across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. He said a narrator reads the same prepared speech.
Once the narrator finishes the speech and a ceremony honoring the services and veterans concludes, then the guests place wreaths at each veteran’s headstone or along the columbarium.
During previous ceremonies, Naval Air Station Fallon, the Nevada National Guard, U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps and the Civil Air Patrol have assisted the coalition during the 30-minute ceremony and with the placement of wreaths.
To order a wreath for the NNVMC event, go to nnvc.org and click on Wreaths Across America for the pdf form, or mail your donation to the following: Nevada Veterans Coalition; P.O. Box 415; Fernley, NV 89408.
The Fallon remembrance is also short of wreaths, said organizer Lisa Devall.
By staggering the time to noon, Devall said guests and volunteers can also attend the Fernley remembrance. She said Fallon’s event will be conducted between the two white buildings located at the northern end of the Churchill County Cemetery.
Devall said sponsorship levels are individual or $15 for one wreath; family, four wreaths, $60; small business, 10 wreaths, $150; and corporate, 100 wreaths for $1,500.
To order, go to www.wreathsacrossamerica.com. The group ID is NV0063, and the location ID is NVCHCC. Devall said the group and location IDs must be entered so the wreaths are earmarked for Fallon.

Steve Ranson/LVN, file
The Wishing Tree program helps the less fortunate with toys and clothes.

 
Wishing Tree
Last year, Wishing Tree was short of gifts for the area’s children.
The community performed its own miracle, though, by finding a way to ensure 108 children received its. Organizer Dawn Ballard said she was panicking, but the people and city of Fallon came through.
Another year and another miracle may be needed to receive toys or money to make this year’s Christmas a memorable occasion.
Days before the 2020 annual distribution, Dawn Ballard of CC Communications said the Fallon community came through and ensured all 108 children received gifts. Ballard and the other Santa’s helpers were ecstatic.
“Three weeks ago, we were short, and I was panicking,” she said afterward. “The city made a large donation which was really helpful.”
Ballard said CC Communications Independent Telecommunications Pioneer Association (ITPA) and Churchill County Social Services work together each year, and with cash donations, she said volunteers buy toys and clothes.
To contact Ballard, call 775-217-8773.
Send monetary donations to ITPA, P.O. Box 1390, Fallon, NV 89407.