South Dakota Patriot Guard Riders

EVENT/Salute to Veterans
August 4th thru 12th, 2023
W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds
Sioux Falls, SD

It’s that time of the year again.  The Patriot Guard Riders have been invited back, for the eighth year, to be present at the Sioux Empire Fair to 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, August 4th starting at 9:00 AM (before the heat hits).  If any one is available then, your help is always appreciated.

We will be placing the KIA Flags in the area that we have had them in the past and the PGR Trailer will be placed in the area where the canopy was last year.  The Rosenbauer ladder truck, that the 30’x50′ flag will be flown on, will be placed in the same area where it was last year also.

   There will be a 10’X10′ canopy placed between the outriggers with just enough space for one table and two or three chairs.   We will be asking our members for volunteers to help each day for two or three hours during the day and we will always try to have at least one member there at all times.   We will not be selling any merchandise.  We will only have brochures and information about the PGR and the KIA Flags that are on display and be there to provide information about the Patriot Guard Riders.   At 9:00 am we will be placing the KIA flags and preparing to raise the big flag on the ladder truck and at 7:30 pm we will need help with take down and with storing all of the flags.

   Please let me know if you will be able to help with the information table.  I really need a few of you to step up and volunteer to help with this so that no one person has a long stretch at the table.  Anyone wanting to come to visit or stay for a while during the day can help at the table if we are short one or two members.  This year we are asking that you bring your own chair to use while you’re at the booth and you can put it in or by the trailer when you’re not there because we do not want any empty chairs sitting around the truck or table.

Any Veteran PGR members, with veteran ID, coming out to the fair will be admitted free at the gate, with a veteran ID.  If you will be riding in, you will need a gate pass, which we will have.  You will need to contact me to let me know when you will be coming, if you don’t have s gate pass, so you can be met at the south gate (entry from 12th St.).  I also will have passes for our non-veteran members.  Let me know the days you plan to assist with helping at the information table, set up or take down flags and I will give you gate passes for those days.  For all others, call me or State Captain, Jim Lentsch (605-240-0024) before you come or when you get there so we can bring you a pass when you arrive at the gate.

Hope to see you there,

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