YOUR AD HERE »

9/11 anniversary tugs at families’ heartstrings

Sheila Gardner / The Record-Courier
Brandon Williams
ALL |

On the eighth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, families in Northern Nevada whose children have made the ultimate sacrifices would tell you not a day goes by they aren’t reminded of their loss.

Brandon Williams, a 2005 graduate of Douglas High School, was killed in Baghdad on Oct. 9, 2006.

“Even after three years, every day is still a struggle,” said his father, Brad Williams, as the anniversary of Brandon’s death nears.



The South Lake Tahoe Police Department sergeant is a member of Gold Star Families of Northern Nevada, started a year ago by Fernley resident Roger Varela, whose son Alejandro was killed May 19, 2007, also in Baghdad.

“We understand each other,” Williams said of the organization of 60 families. “We know what it’s like to not be able to sleep, and when sleep finally does come, you’re awakened by dreams and tears.



“We know what it’s like to struggle with insanity, and what it feels like when you think you’ve lost that struggle,” Williams said.

On May 25, four days before Brandon’s 24th birthday and near the first anniversary of Alejandro Varela’s death, Williams joined other families in Carson City as Gov. Jim Gibbons signed into law a provision allowing specialty license plates for Gold Star family members.

“Only those who were immediate family members of our military personnel who lost their lives are eligible to acquire the license plates,” Williams said.

Williams said the Gold Star families – while not professional counselors or psychologists – share a loss few can understand.

“It’s a unique sense of pride and sorrow, of honor and despair with which many may sympathize, but only those who have experienced it can fully understand,” Williams said.

The bill to create the plates was authored by Sen. Dennis Nolan, R-Clark County, and passed both houses without opposition.

The first 100 plates were set aside for the Gold Star families. It was the organization’s option to use the plates as a fundraiser, but Williams said they decided to release the first plates at $1 each, the manufacturing cost to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

DMV will charge a specialty plate fee when the vehicle is re-registered the following year. A portion of the fee will go to help sustain Gold Star Families, Williams said.

Gold Star Families of Northern Nevada is seeking nonprofit status and is without funding, he said.

Williams has elected not to obtain one of the specialty plates.

“I talked it over with both my sons,” he said. “I don’t want to go to my car every single day and be reminded there of Brandon’s loss.”

Williams’ son Justin recently completed his Marine Corps service and hopes to join his father and uncle Brian Williams in law enforcement. Son Aaron plans to attend a culinary arts institute in Indiana.

He said the Gold Star families meet quarterly with as many as 100 people attending.

“We understand what it’s like to bury your child, your parent, or your spouse. We understand in a way no one else can, because we’ve been there,” he said.


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

Readers around the Lake Tahoe Basin and beyond make the Tahoe Tribune's work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Your donation will help us continue to cover COVID-19 and our other vital local news.