EVENT/Salute to Veterans
August 1st thru 8th, 2020
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 fourth year to be present at the Sioux Empire Fair to raise “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 if any one is available then to help.

The Fair Board is always pleased to have the Patriot Guard Riders as part of their plans for the Sioux Empire Fair.  However, due to the complications that are being dealt with due to the COVID-19 Pandemic this year, the planning for this year’s fair has been very challenging and their concern for our safety is strong.  They have given us the freedom to make our own choices and decisions for our own and others safety based on the social guidelines given to us in our area.  We each have our own feelings about these choices and I would like to ask that we each respect each others decisions.

Now, after some discussion about how to deal with what we will have for our area this year, we will not be setting up the canopy or a gathering area as we have in the past.  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 area where the Kiawanis Bingo tent has been in the past. We will be asking our members for help each day in the mornings at 9:00 AM to place flags and put up the big flag and at night by 6:30 PM to help with take down and storing all of the flags.  There will be no booth this year.

Any Veteran PGR members, with veteran ID, coming out to the fair will be admitted free at the gate along with one guest.  If you will be riding in, you will need a gate pass, which I have.  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.) to bring your bike into our area. I also have passes for our non-veteran members.  Let me know the days you plan to assist with helping set up and/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 meet you at the gate with a pass.

Hope to see you there,
RSVP to:
Randy Ward
Asst. State Captain
SDPGR
Sioux Falls, SD
605-359-8719
reward1948@yahoo.com