South Dakota Veterans Cemetery is a military cemetery in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States, established in 2021 for the interment of the state's veterans and their family members. Owned and maintained by the South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs (SDDVA), it is the first federally-funded, state-operated veterans cemetery in South Dakota.
| South Dakota Veterans Cemetery | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Details | |
| Established | May 31, 2021 |
| Location | |
| Country |  United States |
| Coordinates | 43°37′22.37″N 96°40′39.47″W / 43.6228806°N 96.6776306°W |
| Type | Military |
| Owned by | South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs |
| Size | 60 acres (24 ha) |
| Website | Official website |
| Find a Grave | South Dakota Veterans Cemetery |
Description
editSouth Dakota Veterans Cemetery is located north of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, at the corner of Slip Up Creek Road (County Road 317) and 477th Avenue.[1] It is next to Slip-up Creek.[2] Spanning over 60 acres (24 ha), it has the capacity for over 28,000 burials.[3] At opening, the cemetery estimated it would receive 270 burials per year.[4]
It is the first state-owned and federally-funded veterans cemetery in South Dakota. Veterans can be interred at no cost[5] and have the choice between a typical grave or interment in a columbarium.[1] Spouses or dependents of veterans can also be interred for a fee.[6]
History
editPrior to the establishment of the South Dakota Veterans Cemetery, no veterans cemetery for non-tribal residents[a] existed in South Dakota's East River region, and the closest veterans cemeteries were either Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis in West River—the only national cemetery in the state still accepting new burials—or Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Stillwater, Minnesota.[7] By the late 2010s, an estimated 40,000[8] to 50,000[7] veterans lived in East River. The South Dakota Veterans Council began campaigning for a new cemetery to be built that would be more accessible for them.[9]
In 2018, state legislators Jim Stalzer and Larry Zikmund introduced legislation to establish a state veterans cemetery in East River and to apply for federal aid to do so.[7] On June 28, U.S. Representative Kristi Noem and U.S. Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds wrote a joint letter of support to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)'s Veterans Cemetery Grant Program.[10] Later that year, the VA agreed to allocate $6 million in federal funding,[8] and the state itself allocated $600,000 for the project.[3] The land for the cemetery was donated by the City of Sioux Falls, totalling 60 acres (24 ha).[3] This land was part of a more than 600-acre (240 ha) undeveloped parcel, which had previously been leased out to farmers or was otherwise undisturbed.[2]
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on September 9, 2019.[7] The first phase of construction provided space for 2,300[3] interments across 12.9 acres (5.2 ha) and included additional space for cremains and memorial markers.[1]
The official opening and dedication ceremony was held on May 31, 2021 (Memorial Day). Lieutenant Governor Larry Rhoden, himself a veteran; state representative Dusty Johnson; Greg Whitlock, the SDDVA secretary; and Terry Paulsen, president of the South Dakota Veterans Council, spoke at the event.[3] An estimated 500 to 600 people, including active and retired military service members and their families, attended the ceremony.[11] The first burials were interred on June 4, 2021.[6]
On November 11, 2022 (Veterans Day), the cemetery unveiled a set of bronze eagle statues, called "Guardians", to be installed at the cemetery's entrance gate. The statues were created by local sculptor Jurek Jakowicz.[12][13]
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ Three other veterans cemeteries for Native American tribal members were opened in the 2010s: one on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, one in White River, South Dakota, and one on the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation.
References
edit- ^ a b c Kaczke, Lisa (August 28, 2019). "South Dakota to break ground on State Veterans Cemetery". Argus Leader. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ a b Sneve, Joe (January 18, 2018). "Sioux Falls readying to donate land for first East River veterans cemetery". Argus Leader. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Mitchell, Trevor J. (May 31, 2021). "South Dakota's first state-run veterans cemetery opens following Memorial Day service". Argus Leader. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
- ^ Sneve, Joe (January 19, 2018). "Veterans cemetery expected to bring millions to Sioux Falls economy". Argus Leader. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ "South Dakota Veterans Cemetery hosts Memorial Day program". Dakota News Now. May 29, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ a b "Veterans Cemetery". South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Kaczke, Lisa (September 9, 2019). "New South Dakota veterans cemetery will become a 'tribute to our patriots'". Argus Leader. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ a b "Rounds: South Dakota Veterans Cemetery One Step Closer to Becoming Reality" (Press release). Washington: Mike Rounds U.S. Senator for South Dakota. October 1, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ Ferguson, Dana (December 29, 2017). "Veterans groups push for state-run cemetery near Sioux Falls". Argus Leader. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ "Delegation requests consideration of new Sioux Falls cemetery through the VA Veterans Cemetery Grant Program" (Press release). Washington: Mike Rounds U.S. Senator for South Dakota. June 28, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ Fugleberg, Jeremy (May 31, 2021). "South Dakota opens first state veterans cemetery". INFORUM. Sioux Falls, S.D.: Forum Communications Company. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ "State to unveil 'guardians' at South Dakota Veterans Cemetery". SDPB Radio. South Dakota Public Broadcasting. November 10, 2022. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
- ^ Holsen, Matt (January 23, 2023). "Veteran community teams up for 'guardian eagles' sculptures" (Press release). Sanford Health. Retrieved March 27, 2024.