Memorial Day Programs set

Traditional Memorial Day services will look a bit different this year in Flandreau, and county officials along with local Veterans organizations are hoping you will join them for this year’s special occasion.
This Monday will mark the 35th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Moody County Veterans Memorial in Flandreau at the Moody County Courthouse. As a result, this year’s ceremonies will be moved to the Courthouse lawn at 11:30 a.m. versus Union Cemetery.
Included as part of the observance this year will be the opening of a time capsule placed at the original dedication.
Also unique this year, the program aims to follow the 1989 program, from the music being played to the order of events. The local American Indian Veterans Gordon Weston Post also recently earned national accreditation and will become the nation’s AIV headquarters, which will be recognized during the program.
Both the High School Band and Choir will perform, SFC Jeff Ross will be this year’s featured speaker, and joining them will be the families of those who helped build the memorial, along with FHS Student Delilah Stading, reading an original poem.

Honor Guard Members from American Legion Post #70, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #3351, and the AIV Gordon Weston Post will take part as well.
You are encouraged to bring a lawn chair as seating is limited. The event will be live streamed and recorded, and in the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will move to the Community Center with the time capsule to be opened at a later date.
Around the county:
In Trent, the schedule for Memorial Day Services begins with a Naval Service at the Bridge at 8:30 a.m. A Memorial Service will follow at the Trent Event Center at 9:00 a.m., a 10:00 a.m. service at the Trent cemetery, 10:30 a.m. service at the Salem Cemetery, an 11:00 a.m. Service at Bethania and Oslo Cemeteries, and an 11:30 a.m. service at Nelson and Riverview Cemeteries.
Services are hosted by the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary, who “dedicate this Service to our departed comrades who served in defense of our peace and freedom.”
In Egan, the American Legion Family will sponsor Memorial Day services at the Egan Church at 9:00 a.m. Rev. Father Shane Stevens, Pastor of St. Mary’s Dell Rapids, St. Joseph the Workman, Huntimer, St. Peter the Apostle, Colman, and Sts. Simon and Jude, Flandreau will give the address. The Colman-Egan Band will provide music and refreshments will be served following the program.
A similar program will begin at 10:30 a.m. in Colman at the Cemetery on Highway 34.
Local Veterans helping to plan this year’s events want to thank the local community and region for being as grateful and aware of the service and sacrifices of so many, as they do typically feel appreciated, they told the Moody County Enterprise. While much of the nation skips attending services like the ones held locally as they head for the beach and celebrate an extra day off of work, locals, they believe, in large part remember what the holiday is about.
For those wondering how they might best show their appreciation to any Veteran, they say, a simple thank you, or an inquiry about their service means a lot.