Kerr County honors veterans as keynote speaker recalls friend killed in Vietnam
May 25, 2026 | Kerr County, Texas
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Kerr County held its Memorial Day observance to honor residents who died in military service, featuring opening remarks from local officials, musical honors and a keynote address in which U.S. Army veteran Gary Nler recounted his service and the loss of a schoolmate in Vietnam.
Jennifer Sanchez, who identified herself as a Kerr County Veteran Service Officer, opened the program and introduced Jeff Harris, City Councilman (Place 2) and mayor pro tem, as master of ceremonies. Harris thanked participating youth ensembles and veterans groups and recognized a World War II and Korean War veteran in attendance.
The keynote speaker, identified in event introductions as Gary Nler, told the audience he entered the Army after graduating college in 1969 and served about 19 months on active duty, including roughly 11 months in Vietnam. He framed Memorial Day as “not a choice” but “an obligation” to remember the fallen and described the personal loss that has stayed with him for decades.
Nler recounted growing up in Dodge City and told the story of a childhood friend he identified as Jim Newfer, who was drafted and deployed to Vietnam in January 1968. “We just got the news that your buddy Jim’s was killed in Vietnam,” Nler said, describing the shock he and classmates felt. He recounted accompanying classmates to Jim’s funeral and later learning that Jim had received a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and a combat infantry badge.
Nler also relayed battlefield details he learned years later from unit members and reflected on the scale and youth of U.S. losses in Vietnam. In his remarks he cited casualty figures and said many who died were very young; he used those statistics to underscore the cost of war to a generation.
As a closing, Nler displayed a small piston he said he kept as a memento from 59 years earlier and thanked the audience for remembering comrades lost in service. “I’ll always remember and I hope you always remember,” he said.
The program included a wreath-laying ceremony involving many local organizations, led by the Kerr County Veteran Service Office and participating veteran and civic groups. The Hill Country Honor Guard provided volleys, and Taps was presented by Lieutenant Colonel George Iikner and Petty Officer First Class Brian Ward. County Commissioner Precinct One and county judge-elect Tom Jones led the invocation and benediction.
Organizers closed the observance with a four‑toast salute to those who served, supporters of service members, those who continue the work of service, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The ceremony concluded after the wreath presentations and musical honors.
Next steps: none announced during the program; the observance served as a community remembrance and no formal actions or votes were taken.
Jennifer Sanchez, who identified herself as a Kerr County Veteran Service Officer, opened the program and introduced Jeff Harris, City Councilman (Place 2) and mayor pro tem, as master of ceremonies. Harris thanked participating youth ensembles and veterans groups and recognized a World War II and Korean War veteran in attendance.
The keynote speaker, identified in event introductions as Gary Nler, told the audience he entered the Army after graduating college in 1969 and served about 19 months on active duty, including roughly 11 months in Vietnam. He framed Memorial Day as “not a choice” but “an obligation” to remember the fallen and described the personal loss that has stayed with him for decades.
Nler recounted growing up in Dodge City and told the story of a childhood friend he identified as Jim Newfer, who was drafted and deployed to Vietnam in January 1968. “We just got the news that your buddy Jim’s was killed in Vietnam,” Nler said, describing the shock he and classmates felt. He recounted accompanying classmates to Jim’s funeral and later learning that Jim had received a Bronze Star, a Purple Heart and a combat infantry badge.
Nler also relayed battlefield details he learned years later from unit members and reflected on the scale and youth of U.S. losses in Vietnam. In his remarks he cited casualty figures and said many who died were very young; he used those statistics to underscore the cost of war to a generation.
As a closing, Nler displayed a small piston he said he kept as a memento from 59 years earlier and thanked the audience for remembering comrades lost in service. “I’ll always remember and I hope you always remember,” he said.
The program included a wreath-laying ceremony involving many local organizations, led by the Kerr County Veteran Service Office and participating veteran and civic groups. The Hill Country Honor Guard provided volleys, and Taps was presented by Lieutenant Colonel George Iikner and Petty Officer First Class Brian Ward. County Commissioner Precinct One and county judge-elect Tom Jones led the invocation and benediction.
Organizers closed the observance with a four‑toast salute to those who served, supporters of service members, those who continue the work of service, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The ceremony concluded after the wreath presentations and musical honors.
Next steps: none announced during the program; the observance served as a community remembrance and no formal actions or votes were taken.
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