Silver Tappers, Golden Years draw crowds for Pahrump USO benefit show
Silver Tappers and Golden Years raised $7,000 for Pahrump veterans, with $3,500 each going to American Legion Post #22 and the VFW food bank.
The Nevada Silver Tappers and Ms. Senior Golden Years turned their Memorial Day weekend USO benefit into $7,000 for Pahrump veterans, then handed the money over to two local groups that can put it to work right away. American Legion Post #22 and the VFW Post #10054 Veterans Food Bank each received $3,500 at a June 5 presentation, giving the donation a direct line to veteran services in town.
The checks came after two packed performances at the Saddle West Showroom on May 23 and May 24, where the production, A Tribute to the Big Apple, filled the room both nights. The show shifted from its usual fall timing to spring this year, but the change did not blunt turnout. The crowd response underscored how the Silver Tappers’ annual benefit remains one of the more reliable fundraising events in Pahrump.
B.J. Hetrick-Irwin, founder of both the Nevada Silver Tappers and Ms. Senior Golden Years, remained part of the performance and was described in the coverage as nearly 101 years old. That longevity has helped anchor the groups for years, and this year’s show again leaned on that mix of showmanship and service. Kim Cornell-Lyle produced and directed the 2026 production, while Cornell-Lyle and Ione DeSantis handled choreography.
The donation matters beyond the stage because Pahrump veterans organizations are still trying to build a more permanent support structure in the community. American Legion Commander Melinda Mills has been leading a 2026 push to create a dedicated veterans center in Pahrump, an effort that has drawn in multiple groups. Until that larger plan takes shape, immediate help still runs through places like the VFW food bank and clothes closet, which are open Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon.
For now, the $7,000 raised by the Silver Tappers show gives two of the town’s most active veterans organizations a concrete boost. It covers immediate needs, strengthens the local safety net and shows that a long-running dance fundraiser can still move real money to the people who need it most.
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