Veterans Day Program Held In Milbank

 The annual Veterans Day program took place at the Milbank Armory before a large crowd.

Deputy Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs, Aaron Pollard, was the keynote speaker for the event. Pollard serves as a surrogate for department secretary Larry Zimmerman and is responsible for the day-to-day internal operations of the department including the department’s budget, resolution of all critical issues and oversight of major contracts.

In his address, Pollard expressed the importance of taking the time to talk to those who have served our country and to listen to their stories. “Every veteran has a story to tell. The most important thing we can do is to listen to those stories in honor of their service. Each story is unique, but all are important. Those stories need to be told and heard.”

In addition to Pollard’s inspiring talk, VFW Post #3486 commander Preston Fischer served as the emcee and Emanuel Lutheran Church Pastor Bill Cornelius provided the invocation.

Musical selections were provided by the Milbank High School band and Milbank Middle School choir. A salute to fallen comrades was provided by the VFW Post #3486 rifle squad with a 21-gun salute, followed by Taps.

Units participating in the event included VFW Post #3486 color guard and firing squad, VFW Auxiliary color guard, American Legion Post #9 color guard, Legion Auxiliary president and color guard, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 19, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1054 and the 740th Transportation Company.