Wounded veterans honored on Las Vegas Strip in emotional ceremony

Las Vegas Review-Journal

5 years ago

Wounded veteran Charles Armstead, center, is greeted and applauded as he makes his way through ... — Wounded veteran Charles Armstead, center, is greeted and applauded as he makes his way through the casino and into the Grand Colonnade during a ‘Salute Our Troops’ ceremony at The Venetian on Monday, Nov. 11, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_ImagesA

Gov. Steve Sisolak offers up a letter he received earlier in the day as he honors wounded veterans during “Salute Our Troops” ceremony at The Venetian on Monday, Nov. 11, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Gov. Steve Sisolak read this letter from a teenager during a “Salute Our Troops” ceremony at The Venetian on Monday, Nov. 11, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

The American Bombshells sing as wounded veterans and their family members arrive in the Grand Colonnade during a ‘Salute Our Troops’ ceremony at The Venetian on Monday, Nov. 11, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Wounded veterans and family members enter the Grand Colonnade during a ‘Salute Our Troops’ ceremony at The Venetian on Monday, Nov. 11, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Wounded veteran Christopher Miller and his dog Zulu are celebrated as they make their way through the casino and into the Grand Colonnade during a ‘Salute Our Troops’ ceremony at The Venetian on Monday, Nov. 11, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_ImagesA

Employees from The Venetian gather to applaud as wounded veterans and family members enter the Grand Colonnade during a ‘Salute Our Troops’ ceremony on Monday, Nov. 11, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

A wounded veteran, center, and family member are celebrated as they make their way through the casino and into the Grand Colonnade during a “Salute Our Troops” ceremony at The Venetian on Monday, Nov. 11, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_ImagesA

Gov. Steve Sisolak greets attendees as he arrives during a “Salute Our Troops” ceremony honoring wounded veterans at The Venetian on Monday, Nov. 11, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Members of the the Nellis Honor Guard bring in the colors before Gov. Steve Sisolak with his wife, Kathy, and other attendees during a “Salute Our Troops” ceremony honoring wounded veterans at The Venetian on Monday, Nov. 11, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Las Vegas Sands Corp. chief financial officer Patrick Dumont, left, Las Vegas Sands Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson and his wife, Miriam, applaud Gov. Steve Sisolak as he thanks wounded veterans and family members on Veterans Day during a “Salute Our Troops” ceremony at The Venetian, Monday, Nov. 11, 2019. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Gov. Steve Sisolak with his wife, Kathy, with Sheldon and Miriam Adelson thank wounded veterans and their family members during a ‘Salute Our Troops’ ceremony at The Venetian on Monday, Nov. 11, 2019, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Gov. Steve Sisolak shed a tear Monday afternoon at a Veterans Day “Salute Our Troops” ceremony as he read a teen’s letter to dozens of wounded veterans.

The letter, which the governor said was handed to him earlier Monday, is signed by a 15-year-old named Carly. It’s addressed to “Dear veteran” and states, among other things, “You truly are so brave in all you do.”

Sisolak addressed a flag-waving crowd at the front of the Grand Colonnade in The Venetian’s lobby, then shook each veteran’s hand. The Venetian partnered with Las Vegas Sands and three unnamed nonprofit organizations to host the veterans in all-inclusive suites, with meals, mixology classes, gaming classes and services at the Canyon Ranch spa, the resort said in a release Monday.

The Review-Journal is owned by the family of Las Vegas Sands Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson. Las Vegas Sands operates The Venetian and Palazzo.