Loyalty to be on full display Sunday in Brandon

As the trees begin to bud and flowers begin to bloom, another spring ritual – Brandon’s Loyalty Day Parade – steps off at 1 p.m. this Sunday for its 57th year.

Brandon’s Loyalty Parade – deemed as the one of the largest Loyalty Day parades in the United States and one of the largest parades in South Dakota that traditionally has featured more than 200 units – draws thousands each year, as folks line the boulevards along Holly Boulevard and Main Avenue. The parade route begins at Brandon Valley High School, proceeds west on Holly Boulevard and then steers to the south at Main Avenue.

As always, there is no fee for parade entries and lineup begins at 11 a.m. in the high school parking lot on a first-come, first-serve basis.

What is Loyalty Day?

Loyalty Day is observed on May 1 in the United States, and is always recognized on the first Sunday in May each year in Brandon. It is a day set aside for the reaffirmation of loyalty to the United States and for the recognition of the heritage of American Freedom.

The holiday was first observed in 1921 during the First Red Scare. It was originally called “Americanization Day.”

During the Second Red Scare, it was recognized by the United States Congress on April 27, 1955, and made an official reoccurring holiday on July 18, 1958. President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaimed May 1, 1955 as the first observance of Loyalty Day. In 1958, Eisenhower urged Congress to move Child Health Day to the first Monday in October to avoid conflicting with Loyalty Day.

Loyalty Day has been recognized with an official proclamation every year by every president since its inception as a legal holiday in 1958.

Parade details

Before the parade begins, Tea-based Poet Ethanol Vanguard Squadron – compliments of Beautique (Amanda Christopherson) will conduct a flyover. The Squadron is a formation aerobatic air show team and are powered by 100 percent ethanol fuel.

Another notable sight for parade-goers is the ginormous American Flag that hangs over Main Avenue. The flag is hung from a boom truck provided by Barnhart Crane and Rigging of Sioux Falls.

Performing the National Anthem this year is Brandon native, Michelle Lindner.

For those with a hunger to satisfy, beginning at 11 a.m. the VFW Auxiliary will be selling food at both the VFW and the BVHS parking lot. They will offer BBQs, hotdogs, chips, walking tacos, cotton candy, water, and soda.

Profits from their food sales allows the Auxiliary to donate to programs that benefit American veterans and service-related organizations.

This year alone, the Post 4726 Auxiliary has donated to the Gold Star Memorial Fund, Warriors Never Give Up, Veterans Tiny Home Community via the Veteran Community Foundation, Berakah House, Mayfield, Ky., tornado relief, National Home for Veterans, and funded two veterans for the Midwest Honor Flight. In all total, they gave more $5,000 to these worthy causes.

Monthly bake sales are one avenue the Auxiliary uses to raise funds, and will start up again in October.   

Bikes, bikes, bikes!

Thanks to the financial support of a variety of individuals, businesses and organizations, more than two-dozen lucky youngsters may be the lucky winner of one of 25-plus bikes and two scooters to be given away following the parade.

A variety of bike sizes will be up for grabs.

Beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday, sign up for raffle tickets to place in the drawing for a chance to win a bike of their choice is held at the VFW. Parents/guardians must accompany the child for the ticket pickup and the drawing, and both must be present for the child to win a bike. The bikes will be on display in the Hall of the VFW.

Donations were received from the following to make the bike/scooter giveaway possible: Flex It Hydraulics, Ed Polzine Wild Game Feed Cancer Fund, Sioux Valley Energy, VFW Post staff, VFW Post members and patrons, Marv’s Sanitary Service, First Interstate Bank and Brandon American Legion Post 318.

Parade dignitaries

Selected as the Grand Marshal of the 2023 Brandon Loyalty Day Parade is Wade Blomgren. He is one of three veterans who, in 2020, opened Hero Haven, a 501c3 non-profit that provides life-giving outdoor adventures for veterans, police, firefighters and first responders as a token of gratitude for their service and sacrifice. The organization has continued to grow and in 2023 will serve over 90 Heroes at 10 events in seven states from Montana to Florida.

To learn more about Hero Haven, visit hero-haven.org.

Blomgren was born and raised in nearby Beaver Creek, Minn. Following high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army serving in 1/164 Armor Battalion in Fort Steward, Ga. He attended the U.S.M.A. Preparatory School in Fort Monmouth, N.J., where he received his appointment to West Point. Shortly after his dad had a major heart issue, Blomgren chose to leave active duty and return to Minnesota to go to college.   

At the University of St. Thomas, he majored in finance and gained his commission as an Armor Officer through ROTC in May of 2003 and was assigned the G Troop 113th Brigade Reconnaissance Troop. Blomgren met his wife Heather in June of 2003. They were engaged a year later and were married in May of 2005. Two months later he was deployed with B. Company 2-136 Mechanized Infantry in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Platoon Leader. 

During their time in combat, his unit served in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq in support of 2nd Marine Expeditionary forces and Col. G.H. Bristol. Bravo Company suffered three soldiers killed in action and multiple other wounded due to IED attacks and sniper engagements.   

Following their return home in July of 2007, the Blomgrens began their family. They are parents to three sons, Jack,14, Grant, 12, and Bryan, 9, who named after one of the soldiers his platoon lost in combat, Sgt. Bryan Thomas McDonough.  

His last assignment as a Captain during his military service was as a Senior TAC Officer at Camp Ripley, Minn., where he helped train future leaders, many of which led soldiers in combat after gaining their commission.  

All about the significance of the Poppy

During World War I, after a particularly bloody battle in the fields of Flanders in Belgium, thousands of bright red flowers mysteriously appeared. Poet John McCrae, a lieutenant colonel in the Canadian Expeditionary Forces who had just lost a friend to the war, was so moved by this spontaneous bloom that he wrote a poem about their resilience entitled, “In Flanders Fields.”

The 1915 poem was instantly popular, spurring the Royal British Legion – a UK charity organization which to this day supports veterans and their families – to sell 9 million handmade poppies on Nov. 11. Thus began the “poppy emblem” and the first Poppy Appeal, which is a fundraising event to raise money for war vets held each November in honor of Remembrance Day.

On April 29, Poppy Prince Jett Koll and Poppy Princess Olivia Jackson were assisted by Post member Earl Meyer at Sunshine Foods in Brandon, where they sold poppies. Donations for the poppies go directly to the Veteran Relief Fund and is used specifically for veterans in financial need.

Volunteers make it all happen

Brandon’s Loyalty Day Parade – now 57 years strong – wouldn’t be possible without the efforts of its volunteers and community support.

The planning for this day starts as early as September of every year with invitations and requests for support being sent. It ramps up on the first Wednesday in March when the planning meetings start and tasks are assigned and completed. 

Chaired by the VFW and supported by the VFW Auxiliary, Legion and Legion Auxiliary, this event draws contributions and involvement from every aspect of the community from the Mayor’s office, City Hall, the police, Brandon Valley schools, and local businesses.  

Thanks, Rudy!

Rudy’s Tex Mex, which brings its menu to the VFW the first and third Wednesday of the month, presented a new fundraising endeavor this past March. In 2021, Rudy offered to provide his taco bar for the cause of the VFW leadership’s choice. They selected the Veterans Relief Fund for the $1,000-plus donation. The Fund supports local veterans in need and is available to all veterans by request.

Rudy stepped up once again this year, and on April 12, his taco bar fundraiser – with proceeds going to the Gold Star Family Memorial located in Veterans Park in Sioux Falls – realized $1,800 for the cause.

He chose to donate all proceeds to the Veterans Community Project, which is a new tiny house development for homeless veterans.

Yearly awards

Each year, the VFW nominates and awards community leaders, volunteers, school children, and businesses of the year. Following is a list of their 2023 award recipients:

• Police Officer of the Year: Joseph Reagan

• Firefighter of the year: Adam Nuese

• Teacher of the Year: Erin Rieff

• Voice of Democracy: Julianne Shuck

• Patriot Pen: Peyton Amdahl

• Business of the Year: Ace Hardware