South Dakota Patriot Guard Riders

EVENT/Salute to Veterans
87th Annual Sioux Empire Fair
July 31st thru 8th, 2026
W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds
Sioux Falls, SD

   It’s that time of year again.  The Patriot Guard Riders have been invited back, for the eleventh year, to be present at the Sioux Empire Fair where we will raise our 30’X50′ flag “Old Glory” as a salute to our communities’ Veterans, Military and Emergency First Responders.  We will be doing the initial set up on Friday, July 31st starting at 9:00 AM (before the heat hits).  If any one is available setup day and/or during the fair, your help is always very much appreciated.

   Rosenbauer will be bringing a ladder truck Friday morning for our 30×50′ flag during the fair and we will be placing the stakes, for the Flags, banners and the canopy in the area that we have had them in the past.  At 9:00 am, each day, we will be placing the KIA and military flags and preparing to raise the 30×50′ flag on the ladder truck at 10:00 am.  At 7:00 pm each day, we will need help lowering and storing all of the flags.  (The 7:00 pm may be subject to change.)

   During the fair, we will be asking our members to help any days you are available during the day and we will need to have at least two members there at all times.  We will have brochures and information about the PGR available for handouts to anyone interested in what we do.  Also, to be there to provide information about the Patriot Guard Riders.  I really need our members to step up and volunteer to help with this so that one person does not have this responsibility on their own.  If you are bringing a chair to use while you’re at the area and you can put it in or by the trailer when you’re not there.  We do not want any empty chairs sitting around the truck or flags.

   Any Veteran PGR members coming out to the fair will be admitted free at the gate, with veteran ID.  If you will be riding in several times during the fair to help in our area, you will need a gate pass, which will be available.  If you don’t have a gate pass, you will need to contact me to let me know when you will be coming so you can be met at the south gate (entry from 12th St.).  We also will have passes for our non-veteran members.  Let me know the days you plan to assist with set up or taking down flags and I will give you gate passes for those days.  For all others not riding,(non veterans) call me before you come or when you get there so we can bring you a pass when you arrive at the gate.

   This year, being the 250th anniversary of our country, there will be a fireworks show the evening of the setup day, Friday, July 31st and we will be raising our big flag at 6:00 PM and lowering at 8:00PM.  Come early for the show and help with the flags.

Hope to see you there.

Randy Ward
Asst. State Captain
SDPGR
Sioux Falls, SD
605-359-8719
reward1948@yahoo.com