Veterans will be the winners tonight when Elvis Tribute Artists gather from 5-8 p.m. in the CasaBlanca Sky Lounge at the CasaBlanca Resort in Mesquite. Elvis Rocks Mesquite is set for Friday and Saturday in the CasaBlanca Showroom of the CasaBlanca Resort. Submitted photo.

Veterans will be the winners tonight when Elvis Tribute Artists gather from 5-8 p.m. in the CasaBlanca Sky Lounge at the CasaBlanca Resort in Mesquite. Elvis Rocks Mesquite is set for Friday and Saturday in the CasaBlanca Showroom of the CasaBlanca Resort. Submitted photo.

A select group of Elvis Tribute Artists will gather tonight in the CasaBlanca Sky Lounge to kick off the fifth annual Elvis Rocks Mesquite while also helping World War II Honor Flight Veterans.

The event will be held from 5-8 p.m.  Those attending must be 21 years of age during the prelude to Elvis Rocks Mesquite that is set for Friday and Saturday in the CasaBlanca Showroom of the CasaBlanca Resort Hotel.

ETA performers will sing classic songs of Elvis Presley during the special event to raise funds for the veteran’s future trip to Washington, D.C. Oct. 5-8. Veterans from all over the United States gather each year for the trip.

During the last trip during the spring, 55 veterans from Nevada made the trek. Southern Nevada’s participants included residents of Mesquite, Las Vegas, Pahrump, Boulder City and Ely.

The flight this year will take 35 veterans to Washington to visit the monuments before ending up at Arlington Memorial Cemetery.

A dedicated planning effort on behalf of the Honor Flight of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas handles all planning for the two day trip. A Disabled Veterans Van from Mesquite takes the members to the Orleans Hotel Casino in southwest Las Vegas before returning them to Mesquite after they have returned to Las Vegas.

Then, veterans board a 4 a.m. Southwest non-stop cross country trip to Washington, D.C. They are picked up a Dulles Airport and then taken to a hotel.

“This is a wonderful event,” said Carol Klasen, a volunteer who works with others to orchestrate the warm-hearted gathering. “Jim Brown, who is the VSO officer for the Mesquite Veterans Center, spearheads the fund-raiser each year.

“Every year at the Harley Davidson dealership in Las Vegas, a big pancake breakfast is hosted to raise funds. They raised more than $10,000 last year.”

This year’s gathering at Red Rock Harley Davidson in Las Vegas is set for Sept. 6.

Further information regarding the fund raiser can be found by calling Jim Brown at the Mesquite Veterans Center at 702-345-3361 or by calling Carol Klasen at 702-345-2437.

Further information regarding Elvis Rocks Mesquite can be found by visiting www.mesquitegaming.com; calling Star Tickets at 800-585-3737 or by contacting Arko at www.freespiritvacations.com or by calling 480-926-5547.

Elvis Rocks Mesquite along with BransonFest Out West each February is presented by Free Spirit Vacations and Events President Sue Arko. Both events have proven big successes drawing fans from all over the country.