BOULDER CITY (KTNV) — More than 640,000 U.S. veterans die each year and funerals for those who served are held every day across the country.

Southern Nevada chapters of veterans groups are coming together in a unique way to ensure local fallen veterans are not forgotten.

“It means a lot to us to honor these men and women with dignity for the long lives they have lived which include military service to our country,” said Steve Parnes.

Parnes was a Navy submariner for 20 years and is now an assistant state captain with Patriot Guard Riders of Southern Nevada. The organization provides escorts and flag lines to fallen service members at the request of their family members and other veteran services.

“It’s just a little something to let them know there’s gratitude for everything we’re enjoying today,” Army veteran Neil Johnson said. “Even if you don’t know them.”

You’d never know it, but most veterinarians attending services on a beautiful Thursday morning in Boulder City at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery I never knew the men and women who were honored.

But that’s the best part: they don’t have to.

“You feel the fact that there are guys risking their lives, and there’s no one here to give them a proper honor at the end of their lives,” Parnes said.

These deceased service members are known as “unaccompanied veterans” because they do not have family or friends nearby to plan their funerals.

“We don’t know the reasons why they don’t have family or close friends who have organized their funerals,” Parnes said.

Local veterans groups like the Southern Nevada Patriot Guard Troopers, Vietnam Veterans of America And Women Veterans of Nevada We’ve been honoring these heroes for years.

“Since 2012, we have honored approximately 1,800 unaccompanied veterans on Thursday mornings,” Parnes said.

Each person who participates is there for their own reason.

“It’s the least we can do in return,” said Johnson, who served in Vietnam. “I got into trouble a few times, got hurt, and they came to my rescue because we needed help. Not all of them came back after they rescued me, so I have the feeling like this is my way of giving back to these people who came to my aid.”

Parnes also has his reasons: “If I was in this situation, if I passed away and I had no one at all to be there for me, how forgotten could you feel?”

Decades ago, these veterans were called to serve, and now they feel called to serve again.

“We owe them a lot for their sacrifice and service,” Parnes said.

“We don’t want these veterans to go unrecognized,” Johnson said. “We want them to know that they still have a family who cares for them.”

This family may include you.

Memorial services for unaccompanied veterans in Boulder City are open to all and are typically held on Thursday mornings.

Anyone who wishes to stop by can thank these fallen veterans for their service to ensure they are never forgotten.

To stay informed of when unsupervised services will take place, contact Southern Nevada Patriot Guard Troopers for more details email [email protected], or visit their website by clicking here.