When You Sent Him Off To War, You Didn't Care What He Believed. Now, He's Served You With His Blood. Grant Him His Dignity.

Some days, I come in, open my e-mail, and start to cry. This morning, the tears were tears of happiness. Thank you, Nevada.

Nevada Office of Veterans Services

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sgt. Stewart to Receive Recognition at Cemetery

Reno – 9/13/06 The Nevada Office of Veterans’ Services announced today a plaque honoring the service and sacrifice of Sgt. Patrick Stewart will be added to the Veterans’ Memorial Wall in Fernley. The plaque, which had been delayed as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs considered an application for the approval of the Wiccan religious symbol on headstones and markers, will be placed beside another honoring his former crewmate, Chief Warrant Officer John Flynn.

The decision to place the plaque was reached after receiving legal advice from the Nevada Attorney General’s office that the Nevada Office of Veterans Services and the state have sole discretion over state veteran cemeteries, as referenced in 32 CFR Part 39 section 39.24, which reads, “Neither the Secretary nor any employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall exercise any supervision or control over the administration, personnel, maintenance, or operation of any State veterans’ cemetery.”

Nevada Office of Veterans Services Executive Director Tim Tetz said, “I promised his widow and many others that we would diligently pursue every option to make certain Sgt. Stewart received recognition for his contributions as an Army soldier, a Nevadan, and an American hero.”

Brig. Gen. Cindy Kirkland, the Adjutant General of Nevada’s National Guard, added, “We are proud of the combat service of every Nevada National Guardsman, and I am pleased we are able to recognize Sgt. Stewart's sacrifice and the ideals for which he stood.”

September 25 will mark the one-year anniversary of the helicopter crash that killed Sgt. Patrick Stewart while he was serving as a member of the Nevada National Guard in Afghanistan. The installation date for the plaque has not been finalized

Contact: Tim Tetz, (775) 688.1653,
Email: HYPERLINK "mailto:tetzt@veterans.nv.gov" tetzt@veterans.nv.gov
http://www.veterans.nv.gov