If you are looking for a way to honor our country’s fallen soldiers this Veterans Day, then consider heading over to the Nevada Veterans Memorial Plaza (NVMP) at the Sparks Marina for an immersive, commemorative experience.
In 2014, late Sparks mayor and U.S. Navy veteran Ron Smith had the idea to build the NVMP, with a mission to create a space that preserves and honors the legacy of fallen Nevada servicemembers. The Plaza broke ground in 2019 and the major phases of the project were completed in 2022, fulfilling its goal of creating a physical space that acknowledges the sacrifice and accomplishment of Nevada’s soldiers.
The Plaza is continuing to be built in a partnership with Q&D Construction which will allow the public to walk among the names of the 896 fallen Nevadan veterans while also providing a place for teachers and parents to explain the history and sacrifice of the state (and country’s) servicemembers. When completed, it will also be a destination for veteran organizations to hold meetings. Commemorative bricks are still available for purchase.
The public is invited to stop by the memorial this November 11 to take a moment and honor the fallen Nevadans who are listed on the wall or take some time out of their day to show value to those who’ve sacrificed themselves to serve our country. Sparks Florist has also donated flowers for those who want to place a flower next to a specific commemoration. The NVMP team will also be on hand to give tours of the memorial and provide brochures for those who want to go at their own pace by partaking in a self-guided experience.
“It is our responsibility to acknowledge the sacrifice and accomplishments of those who gave a part of their youth, or the entirety of their lives for these great States,” says Sparks City Councilman and President of the Nevada Veterans Memorial Plaza Project Kristopher Dahir.
“We must teach the next generation about the values we carry and leave a legacy of those things we cherish the most,” he adds. “It is our civic duty to remember the past and inspire the future.”
To learn more about the project or take a virtual tour of the Plaza, visit nvmp.us.
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