River Cities Public Transit receives SD Department of Veterans Affairs Partner of the Year Award for 2021

River Cities Public Transit of Pierre has been named the 2021 South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs Partner of the Year.

RCPT was recognized at SDDVA’s annual benefit conference yesterday (Aug. 16, 2021) in Pierre.

What started with Fort Pierre American Legion Post 20’s application for a United States Department of Veterans Affairs Highly Rural Transportation Grant has grown into a partnership that’s benefited South Dakota veterans in over 30 counties. After receiving the original grant, Post 20 partnered with RCPT to provide transportation for veterans to and from their medical appointments.

South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Greg Whitlock says RCPT has a legacy of cooperation, dedication, commitment and building partnerships. He says the team at RCPT has also volunteered their transportation services to veterans attending State Fair recognitions, as well as transporting veterans and their families to and from the ribbon cutting ceremony at the new state Veterans Cemetery earlier this year.

Ron Baumgart with River Cities Public Transit in Pierre receives the South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs 2021 Partner of the Year from Sec. Greg Whitlock (Aug. 16, 2021).
Photo credit South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs.

Others recognized Monday by the SDDVA were:

• Dan Cullen, veterans service officer for Fall River County, was awarded the 2021 Veterans Service Officer of the Year award. He was acknowledged for his success in winning appeals for veterans, his advocacy for veterans, his ability to build relationships with partners within the veteran network, and his willingness to mentor new members of the team.
• Todd Rose, veterans service officer for Codington County, received the 2021 New County Veterans Service Officer of the Year award. Todd was recognized for his desire to acquire and absorb information to assist his veterans and for his outstanding ability to communicate with veterans and their families.
• Jerry Lemme, SDDVA state veterans service officer in the SDDVA Sioux Falls Claims Office, was awarded the SDDVA 2021 Outstanding Department Staffer of the Year award. Lemme was recognized for his outstanding ability to communicate with veterans and their families, his mentorship and his strong leadership and work ethic.
• Aaron Pollard, SDDVA Deputy Secretary, was named the 2021 South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs Outstanding Leader, Mentor, Advocate of the Year. Pollard was recognized for his sense of responsibility, ownership, and his dependability. Pollard was the leading force in creating the vision for the new state veterans cemetery and for executing the project from start to finish.