Nevada Veteran’s Coalition dedicates Trooper monument
Joseph Maino, The Fernley Reporter
Three Civil War era cannons emitted ground shaking booms and belched white smoke that slowly drifted over veteran’s graves during the Trooper Dedication Ceremony at the Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery last Saturday, June 18.
The ceremony was held to dedicate the Trooper monument dedicated to the Civil War Union Army’s 1st Battalion Volunteer Calvary or the Nevada Territory Cavalry Volunteers. This was a unit raised for the Union army during the Civil War.
The event, sponsored by the Nevada Veteran’s Coalition, included special guests Col. Kat Miller, Director of the Nevada Department of Veteran’s Services; Caleb Gage (Nevada Homeland Security), Gen. M. Hanifan (Army National Guard) and Virginia City resident and vocalist Lacy J. Dalton, who sang the National Anthem and Amazing Grace.
Attendees also enjoyed a cavalry charge by the 1st Nevada Volunteer Cavalry Civil War re-enactors.
Artist Scott Rogers created The Trooper bronze monument. His web page notes the “piece represents a United States military cavalry trooper during the 1880’s…” who were “Famed for their fierceness in battle…”.
Boy Scout Troop 103, headed by Noah Foist, landscaped the area surrounding the monument.
The ceremony held special meaning for area resident Robert Sedgwick. His relative, Major General John Sedgwick distinguished himself during the Civil War and Fort Sedgwick in Colorado was named after the General in 1865.
All photos by Joseph Maino, The Fernley Reporter
