Congressman Cresent Hardy (R-NV-CD4), left, and Nevada State Assemblyman Chris Edwards (R-AD19), center, congratulate this year’s Mesquite Veterans Day Parade Grand Marshal T.J. Richardson at the Veterans Memorial Service held Saturday morning, Nov. 5 before a large audience at the Veterans Memorial Park. Photo by Barbara Ellestad.
“We should always listen and tell the stories of our heroes,” Congressman Cresent Hardy (R-NV-CD4) told a large crowd at the annual Mesquite Veterans Memorial Service Saturday, Nov. 5. “The fabric of our history is colored with their sacrifice. With everything we ever remember, their stories of sacrifice and valor do not make the headlines. Neither I or you will ever fully understand. But what does it mean if we cannot appreciate and honor our veterans and their service.”
Mesquite Mayor Al Litman said as he introduced Hardy that even though it was a political year he was grateful that Hardy had helped make the annual memorial service and parade possible through his work in the background.
Reflecting on his last two years in the U.S. Congress, Hardy said, “One of the greatest privileges I’ve had is to go to places like Walter Reed Hospital and see what strong men and women we have. They don’t have a lot of remorse for their challenges and the struggles they’ve had. They just want to keep going. We thank them for their sacrifice.”
Even though Veterans Day is traditionally a somber event meant to remember all those who have sacrificed for the good of the nation, perhaps Nevada State Assemblyman Chris Edwards (R-AD19) said it best when he described how his grandfather must have actually celebrated the end of World War I on a battlefield in France and his father celebrated the end of World War II on a ship in the Pacific Ocean.
When Veterans Day was first created, “it was a celebration not a memorial service,” Edwards said. “My grandfather was delighted to know that he had survived the war. When the Armistice was signed, he was one celebrating guy. This is a day of celebration and happiness because this is when the men and women came home.”
“I want to thank you for showing up,” Edwards said. “You folks in Mesquite always show up which is why you have a fantastic community.”
The large audience at the Veterans Memorial Park was entertained by the Sun City Sounds singing group and Mesquite Mayor Al Litman introduced this year’s Veterans Parade Grand Marshal, T.J. Richardson.
