The South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs is hosting a State Bridge Dedication Ceremony Saturday (June 25, 2022) to honor two state residents who died while serving in the US military.
The ceremony for US Army Sergeant Richard Maynard and PFC Frederick Farlee will be at 10:30am (MT) at Pioneer Hall in Dupree (600 Juniper Street).
The South Dakota HWY 65 Bridge over the Moreau River– 12.8 miles south of SD 20– will be dedicated to SGT Maynard. Maynard enlisted in the US Army and began his Vietnam tour of duty on April 27, 1968. On March 20, 1969, he was killed in action in South Vietnam, Quan Tin province.
The Little Bear Creek Bridge on US HWY 212– 1.5 miles west of Lantry– will be dedicated to PFC Frederick Farlee. Farlee enlisted in the US Army on August 29, 1944, and left for overseas in January of 1945 serving with the 291st Infantry Regiment, 75th Division in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. He was seriously wounded in action near Datelinn, Germany on April 2, 1945, and died of those injuries on April 18, 1945.
State Veterans Affairs Secretary Greg Whitlock says our fallen heroes are no longer with us, but naming bridges in honor of the fallen provides an opportunity for remembrance, reflection and respect.
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