BROOKINGS – The traditional and annual program marking Memorial Day will be held at 10 a.m. Monday in the Daktronics Room of the Swiftel Center.
Organizers say events will follow a time-tested and traditional format that attendees have come to expect and appreciate.
As a prelude to the gathering, the Brookings High School Orchestra under the direction of Kathy Winghart will play a prelude of patriotic music. Additionally, the orchestra will play at intervals throughout and close with “God Bless America.” A vocal selection will be performed by soloist Taylor Mileham, a student at Augustana University.
Brookings America Legion Post No. 74 is taking the lead in the presentation of this year’s program, with the assistance of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2118 and other service groups, auxiliaries, groups and clubs. Cdr. Robert Hurd,American Legion Post No. 74, will serve as master of ceremonies.
Highlights of the program include: Presentation of the colors by the American Legion/VFW Color Guard; presentation of the POW/MIA Flag by Rolling Thunder, Chapter 2; the National Anthem, played by the BHS Orchestra and sung by the audience with vocalist Mileham leading; the Pledge of Allegiance by the audience; reading of Logan’s General Order by Spencer Hawley, American Legion Post No. 74; a floral tribute by service organization auxiliaries; Honor Guard salute by members of the VFW, American Legion, and Disabled American Veterans; Taps, played by David Reynolds, director of the South Dakota State University Music Department and a former member of the United States Army Band; and retirement of the colors.
Brookings Mayor Keith Corbett, a retired South Dakota Army National Guard brigadier general, will welcome attendees.
The Rev. J. David Johnson will deliver the invocation and benediction.
State Sen. Larry Tidemann, R-Brookings, will deliver the keynote address. A native South Dakotan, the senator earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from SDSU, where he was in advanced Army ROTC and commissioned a second lieutenant in 1970. He worked for the SDSU Extensive Service for 33 years, retiring as director in 2004. Following that he was elected to the South Dakota Legislature, serving in both the House and Senate.
A potluck lunch will be served at the American Legion Post Home, 1229 Western Ave., at noon to honor all veterans and their families.
Additional Memorial Day observances will be held at 1 p.m. at the United Living Community and at the Neighborhoods at Brookview and at 2 p.m. at Edgewood Vista and at Stoneybrook Suites Assisted Living.
Aurora
At 10:30 a.m. Monday, Pike-Huska American Legion Post No. 230 and its auxiliary will host Memorial Day observances in the community hall. Following the program and march to the monument and honoring of Aurora veterans, the Ladies Auxiliary will serve a potluck in Little Hall.
Keynote speaker is Craig Tschetter of Brookings, a Marine combat veteran who served in Vietnam. He is the author of “Fifteen Minutes Ago: A Vietnam War Memoir.”
For a list of additional local Memorial Day observances, see the Events Calendar.
