Relax and Remember

Kick back and think back.

Memorial Day weekend is a holiday twofer: gateway to summer and tribute to sacrifice.

As we enumerate community events around town, we've included reminders of local lives lost in the Iraq war, drawn from a CNN.com list of nearly 4,400 U.S. and allied casualties as of last week.

May they always be memorialized:

Lance Cpl. Nicholas H. Anderson, 19, of Las Vegas, died in Anbar province, Iraq, Nov. 12, 2004; Spc. Anthony S. Cometa, 21, of Las Vegas, died in Safwan, Kuwait, June 16, 2005; Pfc. Daniel F. Guastaferro, 27, of Las Vegas, died in Ramadi, Iraq, Jan. 7, 2005.

• The Desert Chorale teams with the newly formed Nevada Pops for today's free "Memorial Day Extravaganza" concert at Artemus Ham Hall at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, featuring a candlelight ceremony honoring Nevadans killed in the Iraq war (7:30 p.m., 4505 S. Maryland Parkway; 895-2787).

• Palm Mortuary hosts its free annual Memorial Day tribute Monday at both its downtown (9 a.m., 1325 N. Main St., 464-8300) and Henderson (11 a.m., 800 S. Boulder Highway; 464-8440) chapels, with services, honor guards and musical performances.

• Anyone 50 and older is invited to shimmy at the Armed Forces Day Dance Saturday at the Las Vegas Senior Center ($4; 6-9 p.m., 452 E. Bonanza Road; 229-6454).

Cpl. Jesse Jaime, 22, of Henderson, died near Ramadi, Iraq, June 15, 2005; Cpl. Stanley J. Lapinski, 35, of Las Vegas, died in Baghdad, Iraq, June 11, 2005; Staff Sgt. Emmanuel L. Legaspi, 38, of Las Vegas, died in Tal Afar, Iraq, May 7, 2006.

• Bird dancing, singing competitions and vendor booths are featured in the 20th Annual Snow Mountain Pow Wow Saturday and Sunday on the Paiute Reservation. Call for times and prices (US 95 North at Exit 95; 386-3926).

• Legendary hoofer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson is saluted Saturday with free stories, films and music at the West Las Vegas Library Theatre (2 p.m., 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd; 229-4800).

• Veterans will be honored Monday at Davis Funeral Home in a free program including music, prayers, guest tributes and a barbecue (9:30-11 a.m., 6200 S Eastern Ave.; 736-6200).

Pfc. John Lukac, 19, of Las Vegas, died near Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison, Oct. 30, 2004; Spc. Joseph L. Martinez, 21, of Las Vegas, died in Tal Afar, Iraq, Aug. 27, 2005; Pfc. Joshua S. Modgling, 22, of Las Vegas, died in Muhammad al Ali, Iraq, June 19, 2007.

• Celebrate the outdoors all weekend long at the Gilcrease Nature Sanctuary Arts & Crafts Festival, with tours, carriage rides and vendor booths ($5, free to children under 12; 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. today-Monday, 8103 Racel Street; 645-6808).

• Slap on your poker face for the Helldorado Hold 'Em Poker Tournament at Binion's -- the buy-in is $225, and proceeds benefit Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Nevada and the Elk's Youth Scholarship Fund (9:30 a.m. Saturday-Sunday, 128 Fremont St.; 281-0687).

• Get set for the pets at Sunday's Bird Mart and Exotic Pet Expo at Cashman Convention Center, featuring entertainment from the Birdman of Las Vegas, with birds and supplies available for purchase ($4, free for children under 10; 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 850 Las Vegas Blvd. North; 683-8608).

Sgt. Alfred G. Paredez Jr., 32, of Las Vegas, died in Baghdad, Iraq, Nov. 20, 2007; Lance Cpl. Richard A. Perez Jr. , 19, of Las Vegas, died in Anbar province, Iraq, Feb. 11, 2005; Spc. Ignacio Ramirez, 22, of Henderson, died in Ramadi, Iraq, Aug. 9, 2006.

• Grab your trunks: The splish-splash season starts as pool openings include the Family Pool at Freedom Park, Doolittle Pool and the Pavilion Center Pool (www.lasvegasnevada.gov) and the Henderson Multigenerational Activity Pool (267-5827).

• Limber up for the Annual Runnin' for the House to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Las Vegas ($20-$25 with pre-registration, $40 on Monday; 6-9:30 a.m. Monday, 2323 Potosi St.; 252-4663).

1st. Sgt. Carlos N. Saenz, 46, of Las Vegas, died in Baghdad, Iraq, May 5, 2006; Cpl. William I. Salazar, 26, of Henderson, died in Anbar province, Iraq, Oct. 15, 2004; Staff Sgt. Cameron B. Sarno, 43, of Las Vegas, died in Kuwait City, Kuwait, Sept. 1, 2003

• Expect big fun on the big screen via the Outdoor Picture Show series with "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (8 p.m. today) and "We Are Marshall" (8 p.m. Saturday), both at the District at Green Valley Ranch (2235 Village Walk Drive; 564-8595).

• Hearing and deaf audiences alike can delight in a live theatrical production Saturday of "James and the Giant Peach" by the Sign Stage on Tour troupe at the Reed Whipple Cultural Center ($3-$7; 2 p.m., 821 Las Vegas Blvd. North; 229-6211).

• Seasoned senior actors hit the boards for A.R. Gurney's "The Dining Room," a series of 18 vignettes featuring a whopping 57 characters, presented by the Senior Adult Theatre program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas ($7.50; 8 p.m. today-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Paul Harris Theatre of the Alta Ham Fine Arts building, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway; 895-2787).

• Audiences are eating up "Cannibal! The Musical," back for an encore run at the Onyx Theatre, featuring the twisted humor of "South Park's" Trey Parker in a stage adaptation based on the cult film ($10-$15; 9 p.m. today, 8 p.m. Saturday, 953 E. Sahara Ave.; 732-7225).

Spc. Teodoro Torres, 29, of Las Vegas, died in Baghdad, Iraq, May 5, 2006; Staff Sgt. Michael L. Townes, 29, of Las Vegas, died in Balad, Iraq, Sept. 16, 2007; Spc. Travis M. Virgadamo, 19, of Las Vegas, died in Taji, Iraq, Aug. 30, 2007.

Enjoy your weekend ... and remember.

Contact reporter Steve Bornfeld at sbornfeld@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0256.