HONORING VETERANS

I HAVE:  MARINE CORPS JR ROTC FROM LINCOLN TO POST THE COLORS              A CHAPLAIN, ALAN HOLTE FROM THE VA               A GUEST SPEAKER, PAT KELLY VA HOSPITAL DIRECTOR               OUR YOUNG SINGER FROM MADISON TO DO TWO SONGS (GOD BLESS AMERICA TO OPEN AND ON EAGLES WINGS TO CLOSE)              A FIRING PARTY FOR A 21 GUN SALUTE               MOTOR CYCLE CLUBS TO LEAD IN AND TO LEAD OUT AS SOON AS THE FIRING PARTY FINISHES THANK YOU TO RON HAVENS              TWO INDIVIDUALS TO DO THE TABLE CEREMONY: TERRY MAYER AND MICK NESSEIM FRO 959        ...

August 5, 2012 By: Susy Raybon Bottom of Form One year ago, the U.S. military suffered one of the largest one-day losses since the war in Afghanistan began and the biggest loss ever in Special Ops history. Just three months after the U.S. Navy SEALs took down Osama bin Laden, the Taliban got off a “lucky shot” with a rocket-propelled grenade that downed a Chinook CH-47 with U.S. Special Ops warriors on board; many were Navy SEALs, some were Army Special Forces and others were Airmen from a Special Tactics Team in North Carolina. The Operation was named Extortion 17 , a rescue mission to extract another team of Special Forces soldiers. All aboard the helicopter died Aug. 6, 2011, in Wardak province, Afghanistan. The following sailors assigned to an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit were killed: Lt. Cmdr. (SEAL) Jonas B. Kelsall, 32, of Shreveport, Louisiana, Special Warfare Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Louis J. Langlais , 44, of S...

A Long Overdue Welcome for Vietnam Veterans March 15, 2012 by Alex Horton It has been more than three decades since my uncle came home from his tour in Vietnam, but he wore the battle on his face for many years. Even when I was little, I understood the man in my family who walked jungle trails as a Marine grunt was different from my other relatives. He didn’t talk about his experiences much, to the detriment of our family and our history. My uncle’s story is hardly unique among Vietnam Veterans, and the less than welcoming reception from the public played a role in how comfortable many were in speaking about his experiences. As the Marine Corps blog noted, Vietnam Veterans never received a welcome fit for their honor and sacrifice. Last year, the Senate recognized March 30 as “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day” to right the wrongs of our past. State and local governments are holding their own events in a long overdue motion of support. This year, the USO is organizin...

NEWS RELEASE Saturday, February 12, 2011 DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS CHAPTER ONE OF SIOUX FALLS WILL HOST A GET TOGETHER FOR CAMPUS VETERANS IN THE SIOUX FALLS AREA. WE WILL BE OFFERING OUR FELLOW VETERANS THE OPPORTUNITY TO FORM A MULTI-CAMPUS VETERANS CLUB TO MEET AT OUR CHAPTER HOME (1519 W 51ST STREET) WE WILL BE MEETING ON FEBRUARY 27, 2011 AT 1:00 PM. LUNCH WILL BE SERVED. REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE VETERANS CLUB AT THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH DAKOTA WILL BE IN ATTENDENCE AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE VETERANS CENTER AND THE DAV SERVICE OFFICER FROM THE VETERANS AFFAIRS REGIONAL OFFICE. OTHERS IN ATTENDENCE WILL INCLUDE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE VETERANS AFFAIRS VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION OFFICE AND MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL PURPLE HEART CHAPTER. IT WILL ALSO SERVE AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AN OLDER GENERATION OF VETERANS TO REACH OUT AND WELCOME HOME THE NEXT GENERATION OF VETERAN LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY. CONTACT INDIVIDUAL IS DUANE TEWINKEL AND HE CAN BE REACHED AT 605-360-5837 OR...