Mary Sedgwick from the Nevada Veterans Coalition plays Taps.
FERNLEY — Eight veterans were remembered Thursday for their service to the nation in a military ceremony at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley.
The monthly military service recognizes veterans whose remains were unaccompanied due to a number of reasons.
Sharon Serenko, a member of the Nevada Veterans Coalition who narrated the ceremony, said in the 30-minute service many of the families have recognized the veterans in their own unique way.
The veterans honored included four from the U.S. Army: Pvt. 1 Joseph Roberts, Spec 5 Michael Wells, Sgt. First Class Jack Bunch and Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Diehl. Two veterans served in the U.S. Air Force: A2CJames Bleichner and A/1C Ernest Clark. Two sailors were also remembered for their service: SN William Weber and seaman Carlton Sloan.
Steve Ranson / LVN
Bill Smith, a member of the Nevada Veterans Coalitio, tolls the bell for each announced veteran.
Serenko said it was a time of remembrance for the eight veterans.
“We honor them for their service to the nation,” she said, adding every monument at the military cemetery tells a story of each person who served in one of the military branches.
Serenko said the military service provides a closure each veteran deserves and shows gratitude knowing their honors have been earned. She added the final ceremony also represents the struggles and sacrifices of military service.
Steve Ranson / LVN
Narrator Sharon Serenko reads the names of the eight veterans remembered during a military service at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
The NVC conducts a monthly service for unaccompanied remains and a quarterly service for remains that have gone unclaimed. At each unaccompanied service, members of the Patriot Guard Riders open the ceremony with a march from the columbarium wall to the pavilion, each member carrying a U.S. flag. The NVC provides the buglers and honor guard, while the Nevada Army National Guard conducts the folding of the flag for presentation.
The next service is planned for Oct. 28 at 3 p.m.
Steve Ranson / LVN
Virgil Brown of Dayton, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, participates in the service as a member of the Patriot Guard Riders.
