Community · Valley-wide
Nellis flyover will mark the Veterans Day opening of the $10 million Nevada State Veterans Memorial in northwest Las Vegas
The city of Las Vegas will open the $10 million Nevada State Veterans Memorial, centered on 18 bronze statues, on Wednesday, Veterans Day. The ceremony includes a Nellis Air Force Base flyover and a color guard.
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What happened
The city of Las Vegas will hold a grand-opening event for the new Nevada State Veterans Memorial on Wednesday afternoon, which is Veterans Day, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. The memorial, located in northwest Las Vegas, cost $10 million. A city release cited by the Review-Journal said the ceremony will include a flyover by Nellis Air Force Base.
The memorial's centerpieces are 18 bronze statues representing military members from different conflicts throughout American history. Construction on the project began earlier this year, according to the Review-Journal.
Details for the Veterans Day event
Time and location
The grand-opening event is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. at the Thunderbird Family Sports Complex, 6105 N. Durango Drive, according to the Review-Journal. The memorial itself is in northwest Las Vegas, in the ward of Councilwoman Francis Allen-Palenske. More local stories are available in our community coverage.
Flyover and color guard
In its release, the city said the event will "include a flyover, courtesy of Nellis Air Force Base." The Review-Journal noted that the city did not specify what type of aircraft will take part. The program will also include the presentation of the colors by the Joint Armed Forces Color Guard.
What the memorial includes
Statues with a history
The bronze statues are not new. Allen-Palenske said they previously stood at a memorial at the former Grant Sawyer Building. According to the Review-Journal, the state kept the statues in storage until they arrived at their new home, which is in her ward.
Promenade, amphitheater and educational materials
Along with the statues, the project includes an open-air promenade and an amphitheater. The Mayor's Fund for Las Vegas LIFE said the memorial will also include educational materials. The nonprofit said the site will honor more than 200,000 veterans in the state.
Who paid for the project
A city and state partnership
The memorial is a partnership between the city of Las Vegas and the state of Nevada, the Review-Journal reported. Officials turned to the Mayor's Fund for Las Vegas LIFE to raise the money for the $10 million project.
The nonprofit behind the fundraising
Former Mayor Carolyn Goodman established the Mayor's Fund for Las Vegas LIFE in 2017. The nonprofit raises money from the private sector to support city projects and programs, according to the Review-Journal.
Why it matters to residents
The memorial gives 18 bronze statues a new home after a period in state storage. The Mayor's Fund for Las Vegas LIFE says the site, with its promenade, amphitheater and educational materials, will honor more than 200,000 veterans in the state. The city and state relied on a nonprofit that raises private-sector money to fund the project.
What to watch next
- The grand-opening event at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Veterans Day, at the Thunderbird Family Sports Complex, 6105 N. Durango Drive.
- Which aircraft will take part in the Nellis Air Force Base flyover. The city had not specified the type in its release.
- The educational materials the nonprofit says the memorial will include to honor more than 200,000 veterans in the state.