26-05-2025
Honoring fallen heroes with Memorial Day Program
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — While for some people Memorial Day just means a three day weekend, for others it's a time to remember those who died while serving our country.
Donald Metcalf spent his Monday morning at the Military Heritage Alliance in Sioux Falls.
'There's a long weekend for camping and barbecuing, but the primary reason is to remember our fallen heroes,' attendee Donald Metcalf said.
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It was something he thought was important to do.
'I am just here to support our fallen heroes. I mean, that's kind of the biggest thing. It's what the country is founded on. So pretty, pretty excited to just remember them in that way,' Metcalf said.
Metcalf was one of many that gathered for the Memorial Day Program.
'We've got the brass quartet playing right now this morning. We'll have the singing Legionnaires here. Doug Starr, who's a World War Two veteran, will be the keynote speaker. Laying of the wreath ceremony honoring the prisoners of war to the missing in action people. There's several different speakers and tributes that'll be happening here,' Executive Director SD Military Heritage Alliance, Brian Phelps said.
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The service acts as a reminder of those who died while fighting for our country.
'A lot of people are losing track of Memorial Day. You know, back obviously coming out of World War one, World War two, Korea, Vietnam, where we lost a lot of soldiers in those conflicts. You know, those were you know, 60, 70, 80 years ago wars that we were in. Nowadays people are losing track of all those that lost,' Phelps said.
'It takes all of us to make this nation go around. But, a lot of them gave it all. Every every bit of it. And I think it's important to remember that,' Metcalf said.
Following the Memorial Day Service, the VA hosted a ceremony at the South Dakota State Veterans Cemetery.
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