"We needed a location that would have the ability to fit the memorial, have parking, proper lighting, and bathroom facilities where everyone could come and see it." Gold Star wife Samantha Bivins said that in September 2024, as 8 News Now reported from the farewell ceremony at the memorial's old home at Washington Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard. Her list matters because the new site at Thunderbird Family Sports Complex was built to meet it. In the northwest valley, the 18 statues get uplighting, a shaded amphitheater, extra parking and a playground next door.
The city set the grand opening for Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11. The program was scheduled for 4:30 to 7 p.m., with a 5 p.m. ceremony, a Joint Armed Forces Color Guard and a flyover from Nellis Air Force Base. The memorial sits at the northwest end of the complex, at 6105 N. Durango Drive, on Durango near Tropical Parkway.
The Memorial Has Had Three Intended Homes
The state commissioned the sculptures in 2011. The memorial's own brochure says a national search for the artist drew resumes from more than 200 artists. It also says the memorial was first planned for Huntridge Circle Park along Maryland Parkway. It ended up outside the Grant Sawyer State Office Building instead. That building was the only place it ever stood.
The commission went to Douwe Blumberg. His studio biography says he trained horses professionally for 18 years before he started sculpting full time, and he has since completed more than 200 public and private commissions. His best-known public piece is the 16-foot America's Response Special Operations Monument at Ground Zero, which shows Green Berets on horseback in Afghanistan.
The memorial had to move when the state relocated its offices to a site near the airport. The new grounds were too small for a two-acre memorial, so the statues were the last thing left at Grant Sawyer. The governor, state public works, the Nevada Department of Veterans Services and Ward 4 Councilwoman Francis Allen-Palenske picked Thunderbird as the new site, which 8 News Now reported in August 2024. According to FOX5, the land belongs to the Bureau of Land Management, so the city did not have to buy it.
The statues went into state storage while the site was planned. On Veterans Day 2025, Mayor Shelley Berkley started the public fundraising at the empty plot by committing the first $25,000. The Review-Journal reported that she described the future memorial as "a place of reflection, a place of dignity, a place of respect for our veterans." Ground broke on Jan. 14, 2026, News3 reported. One week before the opening, the City Council voted to accept $3 million from the state for construction, FOX5 reported. The project is a partnership between the State of Nevada, the City of Las Vegas and the Mayor's Fund for Las Vegas LIFE, and Rafael Construction was the contractor.
Ten Silver Figures, Then Bronze
The city's announcement calls the 18 statues bronze. The memorial brochure gives the real split. Ten single figures are cast in an aluminum-magnesium alloy, picked to give them a "looking through time/ghostlike" quality. The remaining eight are bronze, in two groups. Every statue stands 7.5 feet tall.
| Era | Figure | Metal |
|---|---|---|
| Revolutionary War | Continental soldier holding his musket | Aluminum-magnesium |
| Revolutionary War | Native American scout, modeled on the Stockbridge tribe | Aluminum-magnesium |
| Civil War | Soldier at attention with his head turned away | Aluminum-magnesium |
| Spanish-American War | Soldier leaning on his rifle | Aluminum-magnesium |
| World War I | Windswept soldier, rifle ready | Aluminum-magnesium |
| World War II | Soldier with his rifle slung, ready to move out | Aluminum-magnesium |
| World War II | Nurse carrying instruments, bandages and canteens | Aluminum-magnesium |
| Korean War | Soldier poised to ready the guns, representing African American service | Aluminum-magnesium |
| Vietnam War | Soldier loaded with gear | Aluminum-magnesium |
| Gulf War | Pilot | Aluminum-magnesium |
| Global War on Terror | Three soldiers carrying an injured comrade up a ramp toward a flag | Bronze |
| The Veteran Family | A man, a woman, a boy and a girl | Bronze |
The two bronze groups make up the other eight figures. In the rescue scene, the soldiers stand on angular granite blocks meant to look like battlefield rubble. The family figures are left undefined on purpose. The brochure asks whether the man is a father or a grandfather and whether the woman is a mother, a sister or a wife.
A few details only show up at close range. Most of the statues squint, because Blumberg expected them to be seen in bright Nevada sun. The World War I soldier has a broken nose and cauliflower ears, and the brochure suggests he may have been a boxer. The Stockbridge tribe that inspired the Native American scout fought with the Continental Army for the whole Revolution. The memorial took nearly five years to research, design and sculpt. The statues were sculpted in DeMossville, Kentucky, and cast in Norman, Oklahoma.
Built to Be Seen After Dark
The squint was designed for daylight. The new site also lights the statues at night, which the downtown plaza never did. In April, Allen-Palenske told FOX5 that the statues would be lit from the ground up:
"And the artist told us that's actually the way he intended these statues to be viewed. So it's going to be remarkable. For the first time, you're going to be able to see him at night."
That makes evening the best time to see the memorial as Blumberg intended. The city lists hours of 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The rest of the money also went to Bivins's list. FOX5 reported that construction funds paid for a bigger parking lot, new lighting and American flags around the memorial's whole edge. The most expensive piece is a covered amphitheater, designed to keep older veterans cool and in the shade. "It looks like a stealth bomber from the sky," Allen-Palenske told FOX5. The city also lists an open-air promenade, landscaping and informational signage.
The playground next door was a deliberate choice too. The memorial sits beside a play area and sports fields. Allen-Palenske told FOX5 that "our veterans that gave their lives for our freedom are the reason why these children are here playing and enjoying and laughing," and called it "a very appropriate adjacency." Retired Marine Cpl. Vincent Palmieri Jr. of Purple Heart Chapter 711 Las Vegas made a similar point at the 2024 farewell. He told 8 News Now the memorial "needs to be in a public place where people can take their families."
An Amphitheater the Public Can Request
The downtown site was a plaza in front of a state office building. The new one has a stage the public can request. The city describes the Nevada State Veterans Memorial Amphitheater as an intimate outdoor space for ceremonies, educational programs and community gatherings. Requests go through the city's facility rental request form. Events must respect the dignity of the memorial, and layout, attendance, amplified sound and production needs all go through city review. The memorial's city page also links a commemorative flag display request form.
The site may grow. Allen-Palenske has said she hopes to add a Purple Heart memorial, a Gold Star Family memorial and possibly a K-9 memorial. At the 2024 farewell, 8 News Now reported interest in raising money for a monument to the Code Talkers, honoring Nevada Native Americans who served. Donations go through the Mayor's Fund for Las Vegas LIFE, the independent nonprofit the city uses to raise private money for city projects.
Before You Go
- Address: 6105 N. Durango Drive, at the northwest end of Thunderbird Family Sports Complex
- Hours: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. starting with the Nov. 11 opening, according to the city's listing
- Around the memorial: The Thunderbird Family Sports Complex page lists restrooms, walking paths and open space
- Bring the brochure: The city's PDF has a short history of each conflict next to its statue, which works well as a self-guided tour
- Look for the five bench areas: They were added after the original design to give visitors a place for reflection and reunion
For Skye Canyon families, the memorial fits with other veteran-focused traditions close to home. This year's Pray for Snow on Dec. 10 supports Operation Warm Heart.
If your family has served and you're thinking about putting down roots in the northwest valley, I'd be glad to help. I've worked with many military households, and my guide to buying a Skye Canyon home with a VA loan is a good place to start. If you already own here and want to know what your home is worth, Alexandria Mcgurk can put together your free home valuation whenever you're ready.
