Communities salute America on Memorial Day
By:
Jill Meier • Jamie Hult
Aaron Pollard, Deputy Secretary of the South Dakota Veterans Affairs, was the guest speaker at the Brandon Memorial Day program. Rain dampened the day and cancelled the 21-gun salutes at both the Veterans Memorial and Brandon Lutheran Cemetery. Jill Meier/BV Journal
Local veterans salute the flag as the Pledge of Allegiance is recited.
Post 131 Sergeant-At-Arms Greg Anderson places a memorial in honor of the fallen at Monday’s Memorial Day service in Valley Springs. Jamie Hult/BV Journal
Sharon Else, Tina Vugteveen and chaplain Ronald Frentz sing “The Star Spangled Banner” at the Valley Springs American Legion Hall Monday.
A small crowd stepped out of the rain and into Valley Springs’ American Legion Hall late Monday morning for Post 131’s annual Memorial Day service.
“This is a day for remembering,” said Pastor Norm Bouwen from Valley Springs Reformed Church in his holiday address.
Bouwen recalled a trip to Baltimore, Md., seven years ago and seeing Arlington Memorial Cemetery for the first time.
“For Christians, Memorial Day is also a day to remember Jesus,” he said, adding that the world’s greatest memorial is not recognized by historians, designed by artisans or mentioned in travel guides. “It’ll come by you in church on a Sunday morning. That’s what Memorial Day is all about.”
The Charles R. Doman American Legion Post 131 officiated Monday’s service, which included an audience sing-along to “The Star Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America.”
Following the service, Post 131 Auxiliary served a meal at the Legion hall.
In Brandon, Memorial Day observers also moved inside to the Performing Arts Center at Brandon Valley High School. But it wasn’t raindrops that led observers there. Instead, for the first time, a program with a guest speaker, Aaron Pollard, the Deputy Secretary of SD Veterans Affairs, was planned.
Pollard, a veteran himself who was discharged from the U.S. Army in 2005, now serves as the “voice of veterans” in his role.
“Today we gather in observance of Memorial Day. Many will celebrate this day as the beginning of a summer filled with family and adventures that lay ahead,” he shared. “As Americans, we must continue to remember those who paid the ultimate price so that we are able to celebrate and enjoy the milestones of our lives.
“To me, it’s almost sad that we must set aside a day to ensure that we honor those who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms and our liberties. But it’s also appropriate and just that we do so to ensure that the gift of their lives does not go unnoticed to be washed away in the pages of history books neatly placed on shelves.”
Pollard said Americans throughout history have shown an unwavering willingness to fight and die for freedoms at home and abroad. And Memorial Day is a fitting day to “pay tribute to these Americans who paid this price.”
Pollard also asked the crowd to honor those who did come back, many who were not the same.
“Rest assured, the memory of their fallen brothers and sisters is with them each day. These men and women don’t need to be reminded each year on the last Monday in May,” he said.
Pollard informed that an estimated 22 veterans per day take their lives in this country. Closer to home, two South Dakota veterans each month.
“The invisible wounds of war affect veterans of all eras,” he said. “I ask all of you here, be willing to be strong, be willing to listen, be willing to recognize that someone you love is struggling and will need some help to navigate through the storm.”
Before closing, Pollard spoke on the forthcoming State Veterans Cemetery. South Dakota is one of five states that does not have a state veterans cemetery. It is anticipated that ground will be broken on the state’s only veteran’s cemetery this summer. The cemetery is located north of Interstate 90 and I-229 South.
Because of the rain, 21-gun salutes were cancelled at the Veterans Memorial and Brandon Lutheran Cemetery.
