Nevada U.S. Sen., Dean Heller, offered a personal apology to Hawthorne residents for missing this year’s Armed Forces Day parade. He offered a good excuse:

“I have a conflict; my niece is getting married. I haven’t missed too many parades out in Hawthorne. I’m disappointed I’m missing this one, but I’ll be in the doghouse if I miss this wedding,” Heller said with a laugh.

Other subjects the senator discussed his role in the Veteran’s Administration Committee, including his questioning of Veteran’s Administration Secretary Eric Shinseki over issues regarding medical treatment of veterans.

Heller also said he was still working to extend unemployment benefits for out-of-work Nevadans and mentioned his continuing efforts to work on maintaining federal grazing rights for Nevada ranchers.