Honoring Heroes
By Governor Kristi Noem
For many South Dakota families, Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start to summer as we wrap up graduation activities, attend the state track meet, or camp in one of our great State Parks.
While I am a big advocate for spending time with family, over the years, I think we have lost sight of why we celebrate Memorial Day, a day set aside to remember those who sacrificed everything to preserve our life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. It is because of this sacrifice that we get to spend quality time with our families.
I don’t know what it’s like to lose a family member to the trauma of war, but I do know how devastating it is for a child to lose a father. That is where my mind ultimately goes each Memorial Day: to the military children, spouses, parents, and friends who remind us that the price for freedom is high.
Last December, I was in Yankton for an activation ceremony. As I looked around that room, I saw little girls sitting on their daddy’s laps. I saw parents holding their kids tight – some of them with tears rolling down their faces – as they sat there knowing that they would miss birthdays, or dance recitals. That they wouldn’t be there when their little one scraped a knee or lost a tooth. But they answered the call anyway. They knew that freedom wasn’t free, but still they answered the call to serve. To defend freedom. To protect liberty.
In a few months, I’ll be there to welcome the Yankton Bravo Battery back to South Dakota. I look forward to that. But those ceremonies are always bittersweet, too, because they remind us of the soldiers who don’t come home.
As governor, I’m committed to doing everything I can to honor our patriots – the ones who return to their families, and the ones who give their lives for freedom.
One way I’m doing that is through the construction of an East River Veterans Cemetery. I’m grateful for the groundwork Governor Daugaard did on this project, and I’m working closely with the City of Sioux Falls and the Legislature to push this across the finish line. The VA approved our bid design in mid-May, and if all goes well, we’re hoping to break ground this Fall.
To me, this project isn’t just about building another cemetery. This is a tribute to heroes. A place that will immortalize the sacrifices that have been made for our freedoms. A resting place for the ones who have sacrificed the most.
It is because of this sacrifice that we can wake up every single day in a free America. It is because of these brave men and women that our country continues to be a beacon of freedom to the world. These are true heroes who have dedicated their lives to something bigger than themselves: freedom, patriotism, and American values.
This Memorial Day, between the barbecues and campfires, take a moment to reflect on those who have given so much so we can be free.
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