City seeks public’s help to gather names for Veteran’s Day ceremony

By Dave Clark

Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008 | midnight

Henderson officials are asking community members to forward names of veterans to be inscribed on the city's Veterans Memorial Wall during Veterans Day ceremonies Nov. 8.

The wall honors deceased veterans who lived in Henderson before 1980, all Vietnam War veterans either living or dead and soldiers killed in action living in Henderson from 1980 to the present.

Henderson spokeswoman Kathy Blaha said the city typically adds between 10 and 15 names each year to the more than 1,500 names now lining the wall at the Henderson Events Plaza.

"Every year we reach out to the public for assistance," she said. "We want to make sure we recognize every individual that should be honored."

Names must be submitted by Wednesday with proper documentation, including service discharge papers (DD214) and proof of residency during the time served.

The wall was constructed in 1994 and was originally inscribed with 1,213 names.

"It's the only veterans memorial wall in Southern Nevada," Blaha said.

Last year, the city added 13 names. Blaha said most are culled from officials examining obituaries.

"If there's any reference to serving in the military along with Henderson residency, we verify it to see if they meet the requirements for each of the panels," Blaha said.

This year officials are sifting through a list of 150 names.

Blaha said the program for this year's ceremony has not yet been finalized, but will include the Henderson Symphony Orchestra, a keynote address by Henderson City Councilman Jack Clark and a reading of the names added to the wall.

Dave Clark can be reached at 990-2677 or [email protected].