Gold Star families remember loved ones who died for country

Veterans with Nevada ties who died in service to their country were honored Sept. 28 during a one-hour ceremony at the Nevada Veterans Memorial Plaza in Sparks.

Later that day, those wanting to pay their respects attended a similar remembrance at the Gold Star Family Memorial on the grounds of the Northern Nevada State Veterans Home.

David Sousa, president of the NVMP board of directors, welcomed about 50 visitors.

“The Gold Star is more than a symbol,” said Souza, a retired Army veteran. “It represents a loved one who answered the nation’s call and paid the ultimate price… But it also represents the quiet courage of those left behind.”

Sousa said families carry the weight of their loved ones who died for their country.

“No words, no ceremony, no tribute can fully ease the burden of that grief,” Sousa said. “We must stand together to remind you that you are not alone.”

During the short presentation, attendees also learned the history of three soldiers whose names are on the memorial wall.

Two of the soldiers died Sept. 25, 2005 after their helicopter landed in a province north of Kabul and unloaded Airborne soldiers. Once the soldiers cleared the back ramp, the Chinook helicopter — Mustang 22 — was lifting off when the Taliban downed it with a rocket-propelled grenade.

Two of the crew from Nevada were Chief Warrant Officer 3 John Flynn of Reno and Sgt. Patrick Stewart of Fernley. Two men lived in Oregon, and the fifth came from Arizona.

Another story reflected on the career of a former Naval Air Station Fallon sailor assigned to the Longhorns Search and Rescue. Christian Humphreys had been a crew chief for two years before he left the Navy and enlisted in the Army in 2006. Two years later in November 2008 near Mosul, Iraq, Humphreys and his co-pilot died when their helicopter clipped a wire and crashed.

Elizabeth Gerhart also spoke about her organization. As coordinator for the Wear Blue Run to Remember, she said her group’s mission is to honor the service and sacrifice of those who served in the military.

Gerhart had names of those killed in action printed on strips of paper. She handed out a piece of paper to each person before the end of the ceremony. Those who attended the Gold Star event were asked to form a half circle, and their strip of paper included a person’s name and the date they were killed in action. She encouraged each person to seek more information about their veterans and research where the fallen servicemembers served and what they did.

“We speak their names, and we always encourage the people that come to our classes to take that name home that you received and go look them up,” she said.

Sousa told the audience to commit themselves.

“Let us honor the fallen not only with words, but with our deeds, let us care for their families with the same devotion that their love ones showed in service of our country,” he said.

Later in the day at the Gold Star Family Memorial, a number of people gathered for a one-hour remembrance that included the lighting of luminary bags.

The Gold Star Memorial Monument honors the 896 Nevadans who died in service of their country, beginning with the Civil War. This year’s annual luminary ceremony began shortly before dusk with a reading of the Gold Star Mother and Family Proclamation.