In conjunction with the final board meeting of the year, South Dakota Federation of Republican Women held a very special WWII Remembrance Program on Pearl Harbor Day, followed by a fun Christmas at the Capitol celebration.
Dignitaries in attendance included NFRW Regional Director Lorie Legere, SD Secretary of Tribal Relations Dave Flute, SD Senate Majority Leader Jim Mehlhaff, former Miss South Dakota Sara Frankenstein, former Miss Central States Fair Madi Vetter, VFW State Commander Glynis Collier, and the American Legion Color Guard.
Saturday, December 7, began with Christmas carols in the Capitol rotunda led by SDFRW members Sara Frankenstein and Madi Vetter. Then we walked to the Visitor's Center for our Winter Board Meeting, which featured a very special guest: NFRW Executive Board Member Lorie Legere, visiting us from Oklahoma. Senate Majority Leader Jim Mehlhaff led a training on how to communicate effectively with legislators -- very helpful as we head into Legislative Session -- and we gave out "Pats on the Back" to thank members who have gone above and beyond the call of duty, working hard for SDFRW’s benefit. For our statewide Caring for America project, we collected a trove of Christmas gifts that we are donating to the SD Kids Belong foster children.
The meeting's end signaled the beginning of our special WWII Program in honor of Pearl Harbor Day. SD Secretary of Tribal Relations Dave Flute spoke about the Code Talkers: warriors from the Oglala and other tribes who played an integral role in achieving Allied Victory. SDFRW members wrote heartfelt messages on thank you cards that we are sending to veterans in the state. Then, joined by VFW State Commander Glynis Collier, the American Legion Color Guard led the procession to the WWII Memorial on Capitol Lake, flanking the memorial while SDFRW President Catherine Barranco and President-Elect Beka Zerbst posted a wreath at its center. For the program’s conclusion, former Miss South Dakota Sara Frankenstein sang “God Bless America” and Secretary Flute sang the “Lakota Flag Song,” a patriotic anthem honoring Lakota veterans’ service to the United States.
Completing the day, we returned to the Capitol building to enjoy all the festive decorations and take photos with SDFRW’s beautifully decorated Christmas tree.
Please note: the Capitol Buildings and Grounds Department requested that we remove the memorial wreath when our program was complete, so we took it with us and donated it to the Military Heritage Alliance in Sioux Falls.
CAPTIONS:
Photo #1, L to R: SDFRW President-Elect Beka Zerbst, SDFRW President Catherine Barranco, SD Secretary of Tribal Relations Dave Flute, NFRW Regional Director Lorie Legere, American Legion Color Guard at the front of the WWII Memorial by Capitol Lake
Photo #2, L to R: SDFRW President-Elect Beka Zerbst, SD Secretary of Tribal Relations Dave Flute, NFRW Regional Director Lorie Legere, SDFRW President Catherine Barranco
Photo #3: Former Miss South Dakota Sara Frankenstein at the back of the WWII Memorial