BOULDER CITY (KTNV) — Remembering the sacrifices of so many Americans, hundreds came to Boulder City to visit the Veterans Memorial Cemetery to honor service members who’ve defended our country.
A sea of remembrance. Flags marking the resting place of those who’ve served. Families paying their respects.
“This is beautiful. There’s nothing like this,” Angie Wilson, who lives in Las Vegas, said.
She comes to Veterans Memorial Cemetery once a month to visit her father a Vietnam War veteran, laying out his favorite meal.
“He loves his coffee, he loves his eggs and rice, his candy…you know to celebrate him in our own special way,” Wilson said.
This Memorial Day, it’s been different with social distancing in place, and people wearing face masks.
“I really thought a lot of people would be scared to be outside today, but I am grateful that everyone’s here to celebrate,” Wilson said.
A celebration involving reflection at a distance with families respecting the space of others.
“Everybody’s keeping their distance away from everyone and being kind and respectful of the distance,” Jennifer Galindo, who lives in Las Vegas, said.
Wilson says her father deserves all the respect for his sacrifice to our country and was glad to see others could do the same for their loved ones.
“This is a day for them. Regardless of a shutdown, I personally would come out and celebrate my dad,” she said.
A busy downtown Boulder City. Visitors sitting and relaxing, a welcome sight for businesses on Memorial Day weekend.
“The people from Henderson and Las Vegas have poured in this weekend, so it’s nice,” Tara Leon-Bertoli, the owner Boulder City Co. Store, said.
She says the influx of visitors form the valley has kept her busy. That wasn’t the case last weekend with the COVID-19 pandemic keeping people away.
“It had been feeling like a ghost town up here, except for the locals,” Leon-Bertoli said.
She says the atmosphere of downtown is slowly coming back but missing a few elements.
“Memorial Day weekend here are typically louder. On a day like today we would have live music going on every corner,” Leon-Bertoli said.
Her coffee shop and retail store have also taken measures to keep guests and workers safe like reducing capacity by 50 percent and social distancing.
“I have the sanitizer and I do have gloves and masks,” she said.
She hopes in the coming weeks as Nevada slowly reopens, more people will feel comfortable to stop by.
“Shop around a little bit and stay for some drinks,” Leon-Bertoli said.
