Memorial Day events slated for this weekend

Services, parades, barbecues and other events are planned over Memorial Day weekend to honor the men and women who gave their lives serving in the armed forces.

The Northern Nevada Veterans Cemetery in Fernley is the site of two events, the first of which is a “Flag-In” event today. Volunteers are invited to arrive no later than 8:30 a.m. to help place an American flag on each grave. Participants will receive a free commemorative World War I pin to show appreciation in preparing the cemetery for the main Memorial Day ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday.

Monday’s hourlong service is expected to draw 3,000 attendees. The keynote speaker is Kevin Tokarski, associate administrator for strategic sealift, U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. The master of ceremonies will be the Nevada Department of Veterans Services Deputy Director Fred Wagar. The ceremony also will include performances by the Maytan Band, conducted by CW4 Alan Pefley, U.S. Army.

The event is sponsored by the Northern Nevada Veterans’ Coalition and hosted by the Nevada Department of Veterans Services. The coalition is a group of veterans as well as non-veterans whose main focus is to support the cemetery, which serves veterans and their families from Northern Nevada and eastern parts of California. The cemetery is east on Interstate 80 at Exit 48.

Other events include:

Carson City’s tribute to service members at an annual event at Lone Mountain Cemetery at 1 p.m. Monday.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8660 from Dayton and American Legion Honor Guard High Desert Post 56 from Carson City are meeting at 8:30 for a 9 a.m. service on Monday at Dayton Cemetery. All are welcome to the event which includes a 21-gun salute.

The Carson Mall is honoring men and women who served by offering free flags at all 20 of its restaurants and shops through May 31.

Virginia City’s annual Celebration of Heroes Parade to honor veterans is taking place at noon Saturday on C Street. Parade entries include veterans groups, classic car clubs, equestrian groups and marching units. Go to VirginiaCityNV.com.

Flags decorated the graves of veterans at Lone Mountain Cemetery on Friday, courtesy of the Disabled American Veterans and other service organizations in the Carson City area. Volunteers placed the flags Friday afternoon. Other groups who assisted were Elks Lodge, Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC), Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts.

The Marine Corps League Silver State Detachment 630 of Carson City is in its 29th year of honoring fallen Native American military veterans and current Native American service members. Its annual ceremony will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Stewart Indian Cemetery on Clear Creek Road, east of Highway 395 and the Costco stoplight. The event pays tribute to Native Americans who contributed to the U.S. military in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam and at present. It lasts about 45 minutes and offers refreshments, shelter from the sun and chairs.

Evergreen Gene’s, 1811 N. Carson St., is hosting its annual free Memorial Day barbecue, offering hot dogs, hamburgers and other fare, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday. Veterans and military personnel are offered a 25 percent discount on anything purchased on Monday. The 10th annual event includes live entertainment by three performers featured in Carson City’s Senior Follies — Bob Lambert, Marco Gentile and Tom Tomashek.

This also is the kick-off weekend for the V&T Railroad. The season’s first steam train will depart from the Carson City Depot at 10 a.m. today and again the following morning. Opening weekend festivities include live music, mimosas and free face painting for children, in addition to scenic train rides to Virginia City. Opening day will celebrate 42 years of V&T service with balloons, music and food. Tickets are at www.vtrailway.com, or “like” the railroad on Facebook.

The Carson Nugget is kicking off its 2017 Summer Concert Series with Volt: A Salute to AC/DC at 8 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $15 for general admission and $30 for VIP entry. Lady and the Tramps will be playing in The Loft from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday. Ev Musselman will be playing in The Loft after the Volt concert on Sunday. Additionally, the casino will have drawings for The All-American ATV Giveaway at 7 and 10 p.m. today and 7 p.m. Sunday. The last person standing in the 10 p.m. drawing on today will win an ATV. For tickets and information, call 775-882-1626, or go to ccnugget.com.