The Disabled American Veterans are putting on a day of fun and a barbecue starting at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning in Honeysuckle Park.

Commander Bob Ahrendt said the event is mainly reaching out to the more than 3000 veterans living in this area. "It's just a way to say thank you to them for their service and to let them know they aren't forgotten," he said.

There will be games like a bean-bag toss and something called horseshoes on a rope. Prizes will be awarded to the winners.

Ahrendt said the donations from local businesses have been "astounding." "It just amazes me how this community supports us," he said. "Las Vegas is so jealous of what we can accomplish here."

There are four chapters of the DAV in Las Vegas and Ahrendt said those chapters aren't nearly as well supported as the one here.

He noted that last weekend, in remembrance of Memorial Day, the DAV circulated through businesses distributing the Forget-Me-Not flowers. It raised $4,100 from the effort.

Donations of a new vacuum cleaner, an air purifier, stacks of gift certificates, dinner at the Stockman's Steakhouse, car washes, oil changes and other things have poured into the organization.

The ladies haven't been forgotten. For them, certificates for hair, nails and makeup have been donated.

The high-end donations will be raffled and the smaller items will be given away in drawings throughout the day.

Raffle tickets and food tickets will be given to the veterans and members of their family when entering the event, which is free to those providing any kind of veteran identification.

The cost for anyone else wanting to attend is $3 for the food and raffle tickets are $1 each or six for $5.

Smith's Food and Drug and Walmart donated the hot dogs, fixin's, sodas and water for the barbecue. Cook's donated the ice and Saddle West contributed the condiments.

"We have enough food for 2000 people," Ahrendt said. "The general public is welcome to come. This didn't start out to be a fundraising event."

There will be live music all day provided by Rick Scanlan and Dave Yoder as "County Line," and Desert Knights will also play.

There will be representatives from the Veterans Administration available for anyone wanting to initiate a claim, discuss their benefits or counsel over other problems. Ahrendt said the DAV is trying to reach out to veterans of Iraq as well.

One thing Ahrendt is concerned over is the number of homeless veterans here. The DAV is seeking donations of clothing, non-perishable food items and personal hygiene items like shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes, deodorant, etc.

Any funds raised from the public attending the event will be used to purchase wheelchairs and items for personal comfort for the veterans.

"I'm proud to be the commander of this DAV," Ahrendt said. "This community is just phenomenal."

Call Ahrendt at 775-253-5540 for more information.