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ENLARGE
Steve Puterski/LVN photo
Roger Varela shows off the Gold Star Family license plate he created that will become available later this month.
RENO — Roger Varela has his own Iraq war memory and like thousands of families across the country, it came with the ultimate price. Varela's son Army Pfc. Alejandro Ray Varela was killed in Iraq on May 19, 2007 at the age of 19.
Alejandro's Bradley Assault Vehicle ran over an improvised-explosive device, sending the vehicle 50 feet into the air, killing all seven soldiers inside.
As Varela's heart filled with the countless emotions of losing his only child, Varela decided to take action. Last year Varela, who resides in Fernley, formed the Gold Stars Families, an organization dedicated to supporting families who lost a family member serving in the armed forces.
“It's a support group,” Varela said. “Unless you've gone through it, you don't know what we're going through. I know how the mothers feel, I know how the fathers feel.”
On Saturday, the Gold Star group held its premier event, which included the presentation of Blue to Gold Star Banners to five families, while the Reno Elks Lodge #597 presented 14 families with the Medal of Valor.
The Elks honored Fallon resident Wende Hook, whose husband, Cmdr. Luther Hook III, was killed in a small plane crash on May 22. She was not present to accept the medal.
In attendance, though, were Michael and Maria Ward of Lovelock and formerly of Fallon, to honor their son, Naval Air Crewman 3rd Class (AW/NAC) Sean M. Ward, 20. He was one of five crewman who died when their HH-60 helicopter plunged into the Pacific Ocean in May during normal training maneuvers.
One of the families presented with the Gold Star Banner and the Medal of Valor was John and Jeanna Flint of Fernley, whose son, Pfc. Thomas Lyons, died in Iraq.
Like many sons of the war, according to his family, Lyons was a rambunctious child who found himself in trouble every now and then. Lyons sense of adventure took him down many paths and eventually to the Army.
John Flint, Lyons' stepfather, works part-time at the Lowe's store in Fernley. Varela was a customer of Flint's, though the two never knew they shared the same pain.
Through Varela's efforts and the support of the Gold Stars, the Flints have been able to find a sort of therapy to help them cope with the loss of their son.
“Knowing that there are other people out there that care (helps),” Flint said.
“You're not alone,” Jeanna added.
The event consisted of presentations, lighting of a remembrance candle, a bag pipe performance and remarks from the audience.
In the first event organized by Varela, about 50 families participated. The group meets every three months. In January of 2010, the Gold Stars go to the governor's mansion and have dinner with Gov. Jim Gibbons.
Gibbons played a role in Gold Stars, as he helped Varela pass through legislation a new license plate. The plate will be white with a gold star on the left side with the inscription “Gold Star Family” on the bottom.
Varela drew inspiration for the license plate when he saw a similar plate while driving in California. Once he came back to Nevada, Varela went through the necessary channels to present his idea in front of the legislature.
The plates will be available later this month, and Varela was notified that he will have the first plate.
“I was so happy, so content because I felt like I really did something,” Varela said. “The bottom line, I don't want the soldiers to be forgotten.”
For information on the Gold Stars Family organization, contact Roger Varela at (775) 575-7622.
Alejandro's Bradley Assault Vehicle ran over an improvised-explosive device, sending the vehicle 50 feet into the air, killing all seven soldiers inside.
As Varela's heart filled with the countless emotions of losing his only child, Varela decided to take action. Last year Varela, who resides in Fernley, formed the Gold Stars Families, an organization dedicated to supporting families who lost a family member serving in the armed forces.
“It's a support group,” Varela said. “Unless you've gone through it, you don't know what we're going through. I know how the mothers feel, I know how the fathers feel.”
On Saturday, the Gold Star group held its premier event, which included the presentation of Blue to Gold Star Banners to five families, while the Reno Elks Lodge #597 presented 14 families with the Medal of Valor.
The Elks honored Fallon resident Wende Hook, whose husband, Cmdr. Luther Hook III, was killed in a small plane crash on May 22. She was not present to accept the medal.
In attendance, though, were Michael and Maria Ward of Lovelock and formerly of Fallon, to honor their son, Naval Air Crewman 3rd Class (AW/NAC) Sean M. Ward, 20. He was one of five crewman who died when their HH-60 helicopter plunged into the Pacific Ocean in May during normal training maneuvers.
One of the families presented with the Gold Star Banner and the Medal of Valor was John and Jeanna Flint of Fernley, whose son, Pfc. Thomas Lyons, died in Iraq.
Like many sons of the war, according to his family, Lyons was a rambunctious child who found himself in trouble every now and then. Lyons sense of adventure took him down many paths and eventually to the Army.
John Flint, Lyons' stepfather, works part-time at the Lowe's store in Fernley. Varela was a customer of Flint's, though the two never knew they shared the same pain.
Through Varela's efforts and the support of the Gold Stars, the Flints have been able to find a sort of therapy to help them cope with the loss of their son.
“Knowing that there are other people out there that care (helps),” Flint said.
“You're not alone,” Jeanna added.
The event consisted of presentations, lighting of a remembrance candle, a bag pipe performance and remarks from the audience.
In the first event organized by Varela, about 50 families participated. The group meets every three months. In January of 2010, the Gold Stars go to the governor's mansion and have dinner with Gov. Jim Gibbons.
Gibbons played a role in Gold Stars, as he helped Varela pass through legislation a new license plate. The plate will be white with a gold star on the left side with the inscription “Gold Star Family” on the bottom.
Varela drew inspiration for the license plate when he saw a similar plate while driving in California. Once he came back to Nevada, Varela went through the necessary channels to present his idea in front of the legislature.
The plates will be available later this month, and Varela was notified that he will have the first plate.
“I was so happy, so content because I felt like I really did something,” Varela said. “The bottom line, I don't want the soldiers to be forgotten.”
For information on the Gold Stars Family organization, contact Roger Varela at (775) 575-7622.
