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Nevada State Veterans Memorial opens in northwest Las Vegas with 18 bronze statues
The new Nevada State Veterans Memorial, featuring 18 larger-than-life bronze statues by sculptor Douwe Blumberg, opens Wednesday in northwest Las Vegas with a grand ceremony including a Joint Armed Forces Color Guard and a Nellis Air Force Base flyover.
LAS VEGAS â A new memorial honoring American military service from the Revolutionary War to the present has opened in northwest Las Vegas, featuring 18 larger-than-life bronze statues by sculptor Douwe Blumberg.
The Nevada State Veterans Memorial, located at the Thunderbird Family Sports Complex, includes statues that stand 7.5 feet tall. The sculptures were relocated from outside the former Grant Sawyer state building to their new permanent home. The statues were originally commissioned by the state in 2011.
The site also features an open-air promenade with landscaping, an amphitheater, informational signage and educational displays. Organizers say the memorial is intended to provide a dedicated place of healing, inspiration and education honoring Nevadaâs more than 200,000 veterans.
A grand opening ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday. The event will include the presentation of colors by the Joint Armed Forces Color Guard and a flyover courtesy of Nellis Air Force Base.
The memorial is a partnership of the State of Nevada, the city of Las Vegas and the Mayorâs Fund for Las Vegas LIFE. Rafael Construction served as the contractor.
For a community that is home to a large veteran population and major military installations, the memorial offers a permanent public space for reflection and recognition of service. Its educational components aim to connect visitors with the history of American military conflicts and the sacrifices made by service members from Nevada and beyond.