Regional chili cooks bring the heat for veterans

More United States military veterans will be able to travel to Washington, D.C. because of the proceeds expected from this weekend's regional chili cook-offs held at Glen Eagles Restaurant in north Carson City, Honor Flight Nevada Founder Jon Yuspa said.

"It costs $1,000 per veteran, and hopefully we raise enough to send 3-5 veterans," he said. "One hundred percent of the money goes to veterans. There's no overhead and no paid staff."

The two-day event began Saturday with the High Sierra Regional Chili Cook-Off, featuring chili cooks from Nevada and California. More than 15 chili or salsa competitors were counted Saturday, along with more than a dozen other art, craft and service vendors.

One of those vendors is Bob Thran, Vietnam War and U.S. Navy veteran, who produces hand-made wood carvings and crafts from his home in Gardnerville.

Thran said the money he makes from selling his products goes to fund the education of children living in The Phillipines.

"The profits made from wood carvings help them pay for schooling," he said.

Thran said families in The Phillipines must pay to send their children to school. The average cost for college or trade school, he said, is around $1,000.

"That's a lot of money for a Filipino family," he said. "The average income there is around $1,100 a year," he said.

Thran was one of dozens of American military veterans in attendance. Many of them, like Roger Diez and Jerry Smith, were the beneficiaries of Honor Flight Nevada.

Now they serve the organization as volunteers.

Diez, a U.S. Navy and Vietnam War veteran, has been volunteering with Honor Flight Nevada since its inception three years ago.

"Honor Flight Nevada is one of a large number of honor flight organizations throughout the country," he said. "It's about three years old, and last year we had the very first all-Vietnam veterans honor flight in the entire country."

Dozens of veterans in Nevada have benefited from Honor Flight, which funds their trip to Washington, D.C., to visit all of the war memorials raised in their honor.

"We fly veterans back to Washington, D.C. at no cost to them to visit all of the war memorials, Arlington Cemetery, and usually there is a contingent of our folks that get to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier," Diez said. "It's really a cool ceremony."

Had Honor Flight Nevada existed eight years ago, war veterans may have been able to see Chris Parker on guard duty at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier on the hill above Arlington National Cemetry.

Originally from Plumas County, California, Parker served as a United States Army Sentinel from 2006 to 2009, dressed in the finest U.S. Army blue uniform, walking slowly and deliberately back and forth from one end of the tomb to the other for several hours at a time.

These days the U.S. Army veteran now resides in Mound House, continuing to bring honor to the uniform of a soldier by portraying an 1870s Indian Wars cavalryman through the Virginia City Living Legends docent program, the 601 Vigilance Committee, and the Eighth Cavalry.

"This is a way I can continue to show my support for our veterans and honor the sacrifices they have made," Parker said, motioning to his period-correct reenactment uniform. "At the Tomb, the uniform we wear is patterned after this very uniform."

The most recent Honor Flight took off last week from Reno-Tahoe International Airport, Diez said, with several World War II and Korean War veterans aboard.

Although the sights in and around Washington, D.C., are thrilling, Diez said few experiences of Honor Flight veterans equal the send-offs and greetings from supporters at the airport, as well as around town.

"At Reno-Tahoe airport, there's a huge crowd welcoming these guys when they get back," Diez said. "It's really very touching."

Jerry Smith, an Honor Flight Nevada volunteer, is a U.S. Navy veteran who served in the Pacific theater during World War II.

He said the amount of support for Honor Flight veterans is overwhelming, and it seems to just grow from the time they leave to the moment of their return.

"From the start until Baltimore, it just blows you away," he said. "They come onto the concourse at the airport, out of stores and shops, and all lined up for us. Since most of the people there were travelers, it was mainly spontaneous. The support just kind of multiplied and multiplied."

Smith said the public support makes him feel fulfilled in his service, because the send-offs and greetings help to complete his duty.

"It was sort of like the V-J (Victory in Japan) date that we didn't have," he said. "We were supposed to be invading Japan, and I was on my way there. But thank God for Truman."

On August 6, 1945, U.S. President Harry S. Truman authorized the B-25 bomber "Enola Gay" to drop the first of two atomic bombs over Japanese soil, leveling the city of Hiroshima.

Three days later, a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, prompting Imperial Japan to hasten surrender to Allied Forces in the Pacific within a week.

A formal surrender ceremony took place Sept. 2, 1945 aboard the batttleship U.S.S. Missouri, otherwise known as "Mighty Mo."

Those actions prevented an invasion of Japan, and preserved the lives of American servicemen like Smith, allowing them to return home to their families and become part of the nation's domestic fabric once again.

Honor Flight Nevada helps war survivors like Smith to be able to see the very fruits of their labors, and the results of the blood, sweat and tears they shed for their country.

"Outside of getting shot, it's probably one of the greatest experiences of my life," Smith said.

For a nominal fee, visitors to the regional chili cook-offs can experience some of the best chili and salsas made in the west.

From traditional red or green Texas-style chili without beans, to thicker house chilis, the breadth of flavors is almost as diverse as the level of heat.

The regional chili cook-offs continue tomorrow on the grounds of Glen Eagles Restaurant off North Carson Street with the Nevada Capitol Chili Cook-Off beginning at 11 a.m. and running until 5 p.m.

For more information about Honor Flight Nevada and to learn how to become involved, visit its web site here.