Carson and Reno commemorate Memorial Day

Staff and wire reports

A breeze picked up just as bagpipes sang out Amazing Grace, waving the small American flags planted at each veteran's grave during the Memorial Day ceremony at Lone Mountain Cemetery on Monday.

Sitting alongside small white crosses and grave markers, a few daughters, wives and sons of Carson City veterans buried at the site arranged carnations.

The event attracted about 300 people as Lincoln's Gettysburg Address was read, along with speeches made about women serving in the armed forces and for the country through the years.

Commander David Treinen, of the U.S. Navy, spoke about remembering those killed in war.

"Rest in peace, we do have the watch," Treinen said.

The ceremony also included a speech about the history of women in the service by Gwen Hadd, with the Women's Army Corp., the Gettysburg Address read by Dr. Calvert Frost, and an historical address about the Civil War service by Paul Washeleski with Sons of Union Vets.

Sierra Highlander Pipe Band played at the event and Rick James played Taps.

In Reno, backers and critics of the war in Iraq joined Monday to plant 800 small American flags on the lawn of the federal courthouse in Reno to honor the U.S. soldiers who have been killed in Iraq.

John Hadder, another member of the group, took about 45 minutes to read the names of the 800 victims as about 30 men, women and children stuck the flags in the courthouse's green lawn just south of the main casino district.

Jeanmarie Simpson said her son has been serving in the Navy in Iraq and is due to return home in July.

"He's almost done. But he could easily be one of these," she said, pointing to the small flags.

Simpson said she wanted to participate to help show Memorial Days is "more than just a sale at Macy's."

"It's particularly important to honor our most recent dead in this time when World War II is getting a lot of national focus," she said.

"I think it's pretty romantic for a lot of people at the memorial in Washington D.C. And that's fine. But that was 60 years ago and this is five minutes ago," Simpson said.

Ernest Villareal of Reno brought his two children, Desiree, 5, and Mark, 3, to the event "to teach them the real meaning of Memorial Day - to honor the fallen soldiers who have defended our country to protect our free speech and our right to vote."

Villareal was among those at the event who remains supportive of U.S. troops presence in Iraq.

"I think they're doing a good job over there. I'd like to bring our troops home but until the job is clearly done we need to help ensure the rights of the people there," he said.