SD Fallen Heroes Bridge Dedications
Dedications 2026
SGT Richard Heimes
July 11 - 1:00 pm (CT)
VFW Post 791 (209 Cedar Street) Yankton
PFC Vern Harris
August 1 - 1:00 pm (MT)
Red Earth Table (421 North Main Street) Isabel
CPL Lawrence Brownotter
August 16 - 1:00 pm (MT) 2:00 pm (CT)
V-J Celebration Arena (intersection of Bullhead Rd and Sitting Bull Avenue) Bullhead
1LT Laurence Radlinger
August 17 - 2:00 pm (MT)
Minneluzahan Senior Citizen (315 N 4th Street) Rapid City
SSG Ronald McIlravy
August 22 - 2:00 pm (MT)
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church (106 S A Street) New Underwood
PFC Randolph Hutchinson
PFC Alvin Spider
PVT George Thares
Sisseton Regional
SP4 Gerald Aaland, S2c Laverne Nigg, SFC Ronald Reil, and SP4 Arden
October 14 - 5:00 pm (CT)
Tribal Administration Building (12554 BIA HWY 711) Sisseton
Sioux Falls Regional
CPT Alton Henry, PFC Kirby Dougherty, PFC David Fjerstad, PFC Ruben Schoenwald, SGT Luverne Dixon, and PFC Jake DenOuden
November 11 - 2:00 pm (CT)
SD Military Heritage Alliance (1600 W. Russell Street) Sioux Falls
In 2019, the South Dakota Departments of Veterans Affairs, Military, and Transportation, with the Governor's endorsement, launched the Fallen Heroes Bridge Dedication Program. This program honors South Dakotans who were killed in action or remain missing in action by dedicating state bridges in their memory.
Naming bridges after our fallen heroes provides opportunities for remembrance, reflection, and respect. Each dedication serves as a lasting tribute to the men and women who gave their lives in service to our nation and to the ideals of freedom and liberty.
The Fallen Heroes Bridge Dedication Committee meets each April to select the heroes and bridges to be honored that year, with dedications held throughout the months of May through November.
To date, 72 bridges have been dedicated to honor 78 South Dakota service members.