Public Parking Diagram, United Veterans Club, 1914 W. Capital Ave. (Courtesy)
GRAND ISLAND — A dedication ceremony for the Nebraska Veterans Cemetery at Grand Island (NVCGI) will be held Saturday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. at 3270 West Capital Avenue. The ceremony will be emceed by Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs (NDVA) Director John Hilgert and will include:
• Presentation of Colors by the United Veterans’ Color Guard
• National Anthem performed by the 43rd Army Band
• Pledge of Allegiance led by Cemetery Administrator Randy Lonowski
• Invocation by Dan Naranjo
• Remarks from:
o Governor Jim Pillen
o U.S. Senator Deb Fischer
o U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts
o District 35 Senator Dan Quick
o National Cemetery Administration Veterans Cemetery Grants Program Director James Earp
o Hall County Veterans Service Officer Don Shuda
• Firing Salute, “Taps”, and Retiring of Colors by the United Veterans’ Color Guard
• Flag handoff as part of the Nation of Patriots’ 2025 Patriot Tour
Event parking will be located at the United Veterans Club, 1914 W. Capital Ave., with shuttles to NVCGI provided by Holiday Express Bus.
Tours of the grounds will be available upon the conclusion of the ceremony. There will also be a car show and lunch held at the United Veterans Club, sponsored by JBS and the United Veterans Club. Freewill donations will be accepted. Outreach teams from NDVA, the Veterans Benefits Administration, the Veterans Health Administration, and the Lincoln Vet Center will be on site to meet with veterans and families about benefits, services, veteran claims, and more.
Information and updates on the event can be found at veterans.nebraska.gov/cemeterydedication. For more information on NDVA and the services it offers, visit veterans.nebraska.gov.
