Wreaths ceremony draws crowds to Valley cemeteries

Scores of volunteers turned out to place wreaths on the graves of veterans at Garden Cemetery and Eastside Memorial Park on Saturday.

The Nevada National Guard provided an honor guard and conducted a three-volley salute at the Garden Cemetery.

A bagpiper from Douglas High School Jr. ROTC performed along with members of the school’s chorus.

There are just over 600 veterans interred between the two Carson Valley cemeteries.

Former Douglas County commissioner and Master of Ceremonies Mike Olsen discussed recently deceased career Navy veteran Jack Delaney during his introduction.

Pastor Leo Kruger provided the invocation.

Sen. James Settelmeyer, R-Minden, talked about the history of Wreaths Across America.

His father, Arnold Settelmeyer, is a U.S. Air Force veteran interred at the cemetery.

The cemetery is also the last resting place of Gardnerville resident Bert Selkirk, who volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army during the Spanish American War.

Wreaths Across America is a national ceremony, coordinating wreath­-laying ceremonies at more than 1,600 locations across the United States, at sea and abroad synchronized with the wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Ceremony.

Main Street Gardnerville coordinated the Garden Cemetery ceremony.

“We are honored to have Sen. Settelmeyer present again for this year’s Ceremony. It is a very humbling expression of appreciation for the many local veterans laid to rest, whom we owe a debt of gratitude that cannot be paid,” Main St. Director Jen Nalder said. “We are so thankful for this wonderful community who continue to honor our local veterans laid to rest and support this event over the years. It is a beautiful show of our pride, patriotism and gratitude”