SILVER DOLLARS AND WOODEN NICKELS: They’re why we’re proud to be an American

The Nevada Appeal’s Silver Dollars & Wooden Nickels feature recognizes achievements from the capital region and, when warranted, points out other acts that missed the mark.

SILVER DOLLAR: To steal a line from Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA,” which we think has joined songs like “God Bless America” and “American the Beautiful” as patriotic favorite, we are indeed proud to be an American and that was certainly demonstrated during last week’s local Memorial Day ceremonies. While Memorial Day is for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, we think we’ve found the balance of also allowing those who served — and us — to “stand up” with the fallen.

The Disabled American Veterans and other local veteran organizations deserve our thanks for placing U.S. Flags on veterans’ graves at the Veterans Cemetery at Lone Mountain Cemetery. Other groups who helped included the Elks Lodge, Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) and Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

Memorial Day ceremonies such as the ones at Lone Mountain Cemetery and the Stewart Indian Complex show us why we’re “proud to be an American.”

SILVER DOLLAR: Another Silver Dollar to those who serve goes to Vietnam Veterans Association Chapter 38 President Frank Reynolds for his effort in leading and to those assisting in the effort for making an Honor Flight program possible for Vietnam veterans to visit Washington, D.C.

SILVER DOLLAR: To all of the area’s high school and higher education graduates and to all those, including family members and educators, who helped them reach their goals.