Vietnam

I was honored to attend and cover Saturday's Vietnam War Remembrance and Welcome Home ceremony near the Nevada Vietnam War Memorial at Mills Park.

While there, a television image suddenly came to mind of a Vietnam War veteran sitting alone at the counter of a cafe while a young boy and his mother paid attention to a uniformed service man who had just come in.

The scene was from a television spot paid for by moments.org, a production of the INSP network, entitled "Thank You For Your Service (A Moment of Truth)."

Nevada Vietnam War veterans were honored Saturday in Carson City as dozens gathered in Mills Park to observe the Vietnam Veterans Day of Remembrance and hold a welcome home ceremony at the Nevada Vietnam War Memorial.

Frank Reynolds, current president of the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) local chapter 388 in Carson City, opened the ceremony with the Pledge of Allegiance and the chapter’s chaplain delivered the invocation.

This beautiful weather is no April Fool’s joke, so get out and enjoy the sunshine. Ascent Runs begins their half marathon series today with a race through Carson Canyons, and it is sure to get your heart pumping. The Downtown Business Association wants to see you at today’s wine walk. Once you’re around Telegraph Street, you’ll see some throwbacks from a by-gone era courtesy of Naughty Tea Mistresses, the First Nevada Cavalry, and more.

SATURDAY:

• Rummage Sale at St. Paul’s Lutheran Family: 1201 N. Saliman Road. (8am-1:30pm)

Military veterans in Carson City can now access information on resources and services available to them using a central Internet-based hub.

As the old saying goes, "when opportunity knocks, answer the door."

Randy Wright, DDS of Advanced Dentistry by Design in Carson City had little idea who or what was knocking on the other side of his door, let alone the impact he would have, when he answered it in late 2015.

CARSON CITY, Nev. – Carson City’s mayor, Robert “Bob” Crowell, filed for re-election Monday, March 7, at the Carson City County Clerk’s office.

Crowell said Carson City is realizing a momentous achievement 10 years in the making as the city marked the groundbreaking of the downtown corridor and infrastructure improvement project as was approved by the voters in Envision 2006, the Carson City master plan, also on Monday, March 7.

A fundraiser benefitting Honor Flight Nevada will be held Saturday, March 5, at 11 a.m. at Charlie's Grilled Subs in the Carson Mall.

All menu items are included in the fundraiser, which will last until the items are gone.

Honor Flight Nevada is an annual charitable event that seeks to send military veterans of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam to Washington, D.C., to visit the war memorials built commemorating their service and sacrifice.

Participation in Carson City's local Green Zone Initiative push has more than doubled since the first meeting called together by Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong on Feb. 10.

More than two dozen people attended Wednesday's meeting of the Carson City Veterans Community Council (CCVCC), the local branch of the state of Nevada's Green Zone Initiative, a program introduced by the Governor's Interagency Council on Veterans Affairs.

Honor Flight Nevada is proud to be the charity selected by Jim and Lori Bagwell for the Goodbye Charlie's Grilled Subs fundraiser.

This Saturday, March 5, all proceeds raised will go to Honor Flight Nevada to help take World War II, Korean, and Vietnam Veterans back to Washington, D.C. to see the Memorials built in their honor and paid for by their service to our country.

Ray Bonneville, a New Orleans-influenced guitarist/songwriter, will perform in Silver City on Sunday as part of a benefit for the Silver City School House.

Members of a community advisory panel met Wednesday to adopt a local charter for the state of Nevada's Green Zone Initiative, a statewide effort to bring veteran service providers and other community stakeholders together in a pooling of resources that would make access easier for the state's veteran population.

The panel approved making Carson City one of 10 community green zone councils across the state, calling its local initiative the Carson City Area Veterans Community Council (CCAVCC).

VIRGINIA CITY — Local celebrity and cowboy music performer John Tyson will bring his “American Cowboy” show back to the Gold Hill Hotel on Thursday, Feb. 18, as part of the Gold Hill Hotel’s Thursday Night Presentation Series.

Tyson, a Vietnam veteran, has worked as a law enforcement officer, range manager, working cowboy, train engineer, entertainer and journalist. He is best known regionally as a former reporter for KOLO-TV Channel 8.

But he is also well known for his cowboy songs and poetry, and stories about cowboys of the Old West.

The Carson Area Chapter 388 of the Vietnam Veterans of America cordially invites all Vietnam Veterans and the general public to the 2016 “Welcome Home” Vietnam Veterans Ceremony to be held at the Nevada Vietnam War Memorial at Mills Park.

The half hour Ceremony is intended to honor those who served during the Vietnam War and came home while remembering those Brothers and Sisters who served, but never made it home.

The Ceremony will be followed by a “No-Host” Reception from 5:30-8:30 at the Gold Dust Hotel and Casino located at 2171 E William St, Carson City, NV 89701.

The U.S. Navy christened its newest fast-transport ship, the USNS Carson City EPF-7 at a ceremony Saturday in Mobile, Alabama. Susan Asbury Crowell, wife of Carson City Mayor Robert Crowell, and sponsor of the ship, officially introduced it with a bottle of champagne during the ceremony, which also featured Nevada Congressman Mark Amodei.

On this day, November 11, 2015, we pay tribute to all those who wear and have worn the uniform in the service of their country. On this day we also pay tribute to the families and friends of our veterans who provide both needed and grateful support to our service members.

Carson City Senior Center honored Veterans on Tuesday, Nov. 10 at the Salute to Our Veterans Lunch at the Senior Center. With over 200 in attendance, the event paid tribute and respect to our Veterans with opening remarks by Mayor Bob Crowell, Vietnam Veteran and retired Navy Captain.

VIRGINIA CITY — Local celebrity and cowboy music performer John Tyson will bring his “American Cowboy” show back to the Gold Hill Hotel on Thursday, Nov. 12.

Tyson, a Vietnam veteran, has worked as a law enforcement officer, range manager, working cowboy, train engineer, entertainer and journalist. He is best known regionally as a former reporter for KOLO-TV Channel 8. But he is also well known for his cowboy songs and poetry, and stories about cowboys of the Old West.

WIN this 1982 Chevrolet El Camino being raffled off by HONOR FLIGHT NEVADA. Donated by a Vietnam Veteran, all proceeds help to take more Veterans back to Washington, D.C. to see the Memorials built in their honor and paid for by their service to our country.

The Carson City Airport will have a number of vintage airplanes on display this Sunday, Aug. 30 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for an event to celebrate the end of World War II.

Cactus Air Force Wings and Wheels Museum will have several pieces of vintage aircraft at the airport. The community is invited to this free event to mark the 70th anniversary of the end to World War II. Among the aircraft is a WWII era TBM avenger fly as well as plenty of other planes and vehicles from both WWII as well as Vietnam.

RENO, Nev. — Carson City Sheriff’s Office Deputy Carl Howell was remembered for his heroism and being a “true warrior” by those who knew him best as they shared their memories among thousands of mourners who gathered for a funeral service Thursday at Reno Events Center.

Howell, 35, died Saturday, August 15, 2015 in the line of duty responding to a domestic violence call at an East Carson City home. He was married to wife Rachel and is a father of four children. He was a nine year veteran of the Carson City Sheriff's Office having started serving in March 2006.

It’s a blast from the past weekend. Get started with some history at the Dangberg Home Historic Ranch with the Naughty Tea Mistresses. A walking tour of our haunted past begins at the corner of Third and Curry with the Downtown Ghost Walk. Celebrate Prohibition-style at the Brewery Arts Center: the annual Speakeasy Swing Dance Party wants to see you in your finest zoot suit or flapper dress. Head back to the Eighties at Living the Good Life; DJ Bobby G is spinning the hits from yesteryear.

August 15, 2015 marks the date of the third annual Adopt a Vet Dental Program's Poker Run hosted by the Carson Area Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America. Best Poker Hand wins $500.00! The proceeds from the run helps to support the Program's efforts in providing free dental care to needy veterans in the greater Carson City and rural Nevada areas.

With the waft of peppers, onion, tomato and cumin in the air, chili lovers, judges, cooks and volunteers began the 2015 High Sierra Regional Chili Cookoff on Saturday in Carson City with plenty of sizzle. The cookoff and tasting goes until 5 p.m. Saturday and will continue Sunday beginning at 11 a.m. at Glen Eagles Restaurant.

Whether you like yours bold, spicy or zesty, served hot or medium with a kick, you won't want to miss the 2015 High Sierra Regional Chili Cookoff this Saturday and Sunday at Glen Eagles Restaurant in Carson City.

The Honor Flight Nevada 2015 trip was the first all Vietnam Veteran Honor Flight trip in the country. Honor Flight Nevada's Vietnam Project, a plan that was nearly two years in the making, boarded more than 40 veterans of the Vietnam War and support staff June 19 on an airplane where they spent the weekend in Washington, D.C.

Honor Flight Nevada invites you to the 2015 Regional Chili Cook Off and Craft Fair. Held under the trees at Glen Eagles Restaurant, 3700 N. Carson St in Carson City on Saturday and Sunday, July 11-12.

This fun family event features chili and salsa cooks competing for a chance to go to the World Chili Championship. red chili, green chili and salsa competitions along with the ever popular Peoples Choice which YOU get to vote on. Chili tasting kits are only $3 each.

Bikes, and cars, and brews: oh my! Downtown Carson is awash in activity on Saturday. Battleborn Brews, Bikes, and Bubbly features the Extreme Motor Officer Training Challenge, vendors, a brewfest, moustache competition and more. The Karson Kruzers are hosting their annual car show at Fuji Park, but will be making their way downtown after it’s over, so there will be plenty of cool cars to admire. Mojo Green takes the stage at 7 p.m. and you can head into the Carson Cigar Company to enjoy Reno’s newest Pink Floyd Tribute Band, Scarlett Moon at 9 p.m.

SATURDAY:

• Karson Krusers’ Run Whatcha Brung Car Show at Fuji Park (registration 7am-9am; show and vendors until 6pm; parade to downtown 6pm)
• Youth Theatre Carson City Showstoppers Fundraising Yard Sale on Ophir Circle, off Richmond (8am-3pm; help send them to perform at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom)

Honor Flight Nevada's Vietnam Project, a plan that was nearly two years in the making, boarded more than 40 veterans of the Vietnam War and support staff on an airplane early Friday morning where they will spend the weekend in Washington, D.C.

Honor Flight takes veterans of World War II and the Korean War on all-expense-paid trips to Washington, D.C. Friday's group of veterans marks the first Nevada Honor Flight with veterans from the Vietnam War. The Veterans will visit those memorials dedicated to honor their service and sacrifice.

James Craig Fitzgerald, born November 29th, 1948 in Casper, Wyoming passed away June 12th 2015 at 1414 due to a heart attack. James is husband to Colleen Marie Fitzgerald, father to Shaun Spencer Fitzgerald, and Erin Traci Anderson (Chris), and grandfather to Hailee Alyssa Bauman.

Although their conflict ended fewer than 30 years after World War II, Vietnam veterans are suffering the consequences of their service at a rate almost equal to those who fought in Germany and Japan.