Memorial Day is our Nation’s solemn reminder that freedom is never free. It is a moment of collective reflection on the noble sacrifices of those who gave the last measure of devotion in service of our ideals and in the defense of our Nation. On this ceremonious day, we remember the fallen, we pray for a lasting peace among nations, and we honor these guardians of our inalienable rights. — President Donald J. Trump
By Duke Doering
Memorial Day, this coming Monday, is a time that the South Dakota National Guard honors the 171 Soldiers killed in action while activated for Federal Active Duty.
Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the United States military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. It marks the unofficial start of the summer vacation season, while Labor Day marks its end.
With a proud lineage of serving as the state’s militia, the South Dakota National Guard finds its origins dating back to 1862 as part of the Dakota Territory.
On September 8, 2018 a memorial to those South Dakota National Guard Soldiers killed in action (KIA) was dedicated at Camp Rapid. Our National Guard units have served in nearly every major U.S. war or conflict since the Civil War, and 171 of the South Dakota National Guard service members have been killed in action during their deployments in response to the Philippine Insurrection, World War One, World War Two, and in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
On this coming Memorial Day let us honor the memory of those Soldiers who lost their lives doing extraordinary things, under unforgiving circumstances, to provide the freedoms we enjoy today.
