soldiers

With the assistance of the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit and a determined committee, an unnamed peak on the North Shore of the Lake Tahoe Basin has been renamed “Gold Star Peak” in honor of soldiers from the area that paid the ultimate price in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and the War on Terrorism.

A ceremony to dedicate Gold Star Peak will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 6, at Lakeview Commons in South Lake Tahoe.

Villa Basque Deli and Cafe in Carson City — home of Pete's Famous Basque Chorizo — is celebrating its 15th anniversary this month.

The story of the successful restaurant and its owners Pete and Martha Coscarart, is a fascinating look into Basque culture in Nevada and the American Dream they've achieved through years of honesty, integrity and hard work. Through this determination, the chorizo for which Villa Basque is famous for, has been enjoyed and celebrated the world over, feeding countless families from coast to coast and American soldiers serving in the Mideast.

The Vietnam Veterans of America, Carson City Area Chapter 388 invite you attend a Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 27, beginning at 11 AM at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Fernley.

The service will be an hour long. Immediately following the service, there will be an unveiling of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The shrine lists the names of 151 young men from Nevada who gave their lives in Vietnam. Adjacent to that are the names of eight nurses who also gave their lives in Vietnam while they were there caring for our troops.

Nevada Sen. Harry Reid said Wednesday on the floor of the U.S. Senate that he supports an assault weapons ban, limits on high-capacity ammunition clips and polices to improve access to mental health services. He spoke of mass shootings that have happened across the country and close to home in Carson City.

"As the case of the Carson City, Nevada IHOP tragedy reveals, the deficiencies in this nation’s mental health treatment system are another important part of the discussion about how to prevent gun violence," Reid said on the Senate floor. "We have simply not done a good job of providing funding for and access to mental health services. We have also done a poor job of removing the stigma that keeps many Americas from seeking the treatment they need."

A memorial dedicated to Nevada’s fallen soldiers could be the next monument in Carson City’s Capitol Complex with the passing of Senate Bill 230 by the Committee on Natural Resources.

The American Legion, the largest veteran’s service organization in the state, is acting as the lead organization in completing the project and needs approval to use state grounds.

Originally Gold Star Families, a smaller organization was going to spearhead the project. Thursday's "amend and do pass" allowed The American Legion to take the reigns.

A Nevada War Memorial honoring all fallen Nevadan soldiers since statehood would be added to Capitol Complex under a bill introduced Monday in the state Senate.

The Carson City Chapter 388 of the Vietnam Veterans of America will mark Vietnam Veterans Day in a short ceremony and social gathering on Saturday, March 30, 2013.

The short ceremony will be held at the Vietnam Memorial, located in Mills Park in Carson City, NV in the southeast corner of the park at 5 PM. (The park may be accessed from either Saliman Road across from Carson High School).

After the ceremony, a “Welcome Home” social will be held at the High Sierra Brewery Company, located at 302 North Carson Street at 5:30 PM. No Host Bar, free appetizers, and good cheer.

About 400 Nevada guardsmen have begun training at various locations on and off the Las Vegas Strip on New Year's Eve this year for the 12th annual Vigilant Sentinel training exercise. The training is also being done in conjunction with the Las Vegas Metro Police. More than half of the guardsmen participating are from Northern Nevada. About 300,000 people are expected to party on the Las Vegas Strip on Monday, according to Las Vegas Metro Police.

The California Army National Guard's 2668th Transportation Company was in Afghanistan for more than nine months.
The soldiers were hoping to make it back for the holidays. And now that they're finally home — they say it's time to catch up with family and friends.

My grandfather lived through the Great War - the War to end all wars. And I think of him on this eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month honoring the Armistice. I remember my grandfather on this day along with my father who fought in WWII in Africa and Italy. Today especially, I think of my nephew who has fallen on the battlefield in Afghanistan engaged in combat with the ancient cult of murder and slavery called Islam.

As an "Old Timer" who was born and raised in Carson City, the Nevada Day celebration has always been something special in my life.
Through many years of living in Carson City, I have enjoyed many of the activities associated with the celebration of our state's admission to the Union, way back on October 31, 1864.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar on Wednesday announced the designation of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad McKeen Motor Car #70 based in Carson City as one of 27 national historic landmarks.
Calling the McKeen Motor Car #70, Virginia & Truckee Railway Motor Car #22, "the best surviving example of the first commercially viable application of internal combustion power in a self-propelled railroad car" the designation possess exceptional value and quality in illustrating or interpreting the heritage of the United States, Salazar said.

Many served in the unpopular Vietnam War - they had to. Those who served were not accorded the respect or hero status of those now serving in the various wars since. It is now time to honor those brave soldiers, sailors, marines and air force veterans who fought so valiantly in a war that to this day causes such controversy.

RENO – GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney told about 3,700 members of the National Guard Association of the United States here today that now is not the time to weaken the nation’s military.

On the 11^th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Romney said the return of the country’s troops from Iraq and the impending return of troops from Afghanistan in 2014 cannot be used as an excuse to impose devastating cuts on the Defense Department.

CARSON CITY – State Treasurer Kate Marshall today announced that her office has joined with USAA to expand the ability of Nevada military families to save for college through the USAA 529 College Savings Plan.

Carson City, NV—Another Carson Nugget event will help bring the Vietnam Vets Traveling Memorial Wall to Carson City this fall.

During the entire month of June, the casino held a slot event to support this worthy cause. Today, the casino presented a check from the event to the Vietnam Veterans of America, Carson Area Chapter 388. Today’s check brings the total amount donated to this cause from the Carson Nugget to $2,000, which is just under a quarter of the group’s entire goal.

On Friday there is a unique way to remember and honor area veterans this Memorial Day weekend. The Carson Nugget is sponsoring a Bingo event on Friday, May 25 beginning at 7 p.m. in the Sierra Room.

The profits from the event will be donated to the Vietnam Veterans of America, Carson Area Chapter 388. The group is hoping to raise $10,000 to bring the Traveling Vietnam Wall tribute to Mills Park for the inaugural celebration of “Battle Born Days” in Carson City in October.

At the urging of Congressman Tom McClintock, R-Calif., a committee has been formed to find an unnamed mountain peak seen from South Lake Tahoe that will be dedicated to fallen U.S. soldiers from the area.
Congressman McClintock's office approached the U.S. Forest Service about opportunities for a memorial. Forest Supervisor Nancy Gibson came up with the idea of naming an unnamed peak as one of the options for a memorial on National Forest System lands.

Six Nevada National Guard Chinook helicopters belonging to Bravo Company 1-189th General Support Aviation Battalion just did a flyover of Carson City a few minutes ago. They are on their way to Fort Hood, Texas, and eventually to Afghanistan where they will be deployed for 10 months. Godspeed, citizen soldiers.

Santa Claus will be visiting Buckland Station at Fort Churchill State Historic Park on Dec. 17 and 18.
Everyone is invited to attend and have pictures taken with Santa. Pictures will be taken by local photographer and Fort Churchill Artist in Residence, Richard Massey. Children waiting in line for pictures will be able to make a small Christmas ornament to take home.
WHAT: Christmas photographs with Santa Claus
WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, December 17 and 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

During the American Revolution, Emily Geiger volunteered to ride horseback through the woods teeming with British soldiers carrying a message from Gen. Nathanial Greene to Gen. Thomas Sumter.She...

After the stories were told and the honors bestowed, the Last Roll Call on Sunday was like a punch to the gut. "Lt. Col. Heath Kelly. Lt. Col. Heath Oscar Kelly," First Sgt. Roger Wheeler called...

After the stories were told and the honors bestowed, the Last Roll Call on Sunday was like a punch to the gut. "Lt. Col. Heath Kelly. Lt. Col. Heath Oscar Kelly," First Sgt. Roger Wheeler called...

After the stories were told and the honors bestowed, the Last Roll Call on Sunday was like a punch to the gut. "Major Heath Kelly. Major Heath Oscar Kelly," First Sgt. Roger Wheeler called out i...

Maj. Heath Kelly, 35, of the Nevada National Guard, was busy with his growing family when he wasn't training soldiers, a fellow guardsman recalled.

The gunman who opened fire with an assault weapon at Nevada National Guard soldiers and others having breakfast at a Carson City IHOP on Tuesday morning, killing four people and injuring seven more before killing himself, had a "support our troops" sticker on the van he drove.

Names of those killed in yesterday's IHOP shooting are:

• Major Heath Kelly, 35, Reno, decorated field artillery officer, husband and father, commander of Joint Force Headquarters in Carson City, served in Iraq 2004-2005. Avid student of military history, known for his dry sense of humor. See story
• Sgt. 1st Class Christian Riege, 38, Carson City, father of three, served in Afghanistan 2009-2010, also served in U.S Navy for two years before joining the Guard
• Sgt. 1st Class Miranda McElhiney, 31, Reno, owner of a small baking company, well known in the company for providing cupcakes for guard functions. See story
• Florence Donovan-Gunderson, 67, South Lake Tahoe. See story

According to Sheriff Kenny Furlong, the names of those wounded are not going to be released at this time.

One of those wounded is Wally Gunderson, husband of Florence Donovan-Gunderson, who died in the attack.

See all stories on IHOP Shooting

Writing to New York Mayor George Opdyke in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln expressed as only he could America's support for those who serve in times of war: "Honor to the Soldier, and Sailor everyw...

CARSON CITY – Gov. Brian Sandoval figured the Nevada soldiers serving in Afghanistan appreciated his visit last week when they literally tore the organizational patches off their uniforms and offered them up as keepsakes on his trip to see the country’s military efforts first-hand.
Sandoval, back nearly a full week today, said his eyes teared up when the soldiers made such a heartfelt gesture.
“But it’s all about the soldiers, it’s not about me,” he said.

CARSON CITY – Gov. Brian Sandoval had a teleconference with the Nevada press today from Kuwait, where he is staying in the midst of a week-long trip to the Middle East, including visits with Nevada troops at several bases in Iraq.
Sandoval left Monday with the governors of Kentucky, Tennessee and Utah on the trip, and he expects to return this weekend.