Join us as we honor all those who served and pay respect to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. All events during our Celebration of Freedom are free.

Schedule of Events

June 29, 2022

Seating is limited, please bring a lawn chair with you.

8:00 am: VFW Post 3298 Members will put up the flags on Main Street

8:00 am: Legion Post 194 will put up the Avenue of Flags in the park

9:00-2:00 pm: The Legion Hall will be open for families to set up or drop off memorabilia from any war / conflict to be displayed during the Celebration of Freedom. If you have any questions about the displays at the Legion, you can contact Mona Geidel at the following email: [email protected]

2:30 pm: Vietnam Veterans planning to ride in the parade should be dropped off at the corner of Main Street and Bismark Street in Parkston.

2:30 pm: The AVTT Memorial Wall vehicle and trailer will arrive at the Dimock Dairy Lot

2:30 pm: Anyone who would like to join the escort bringing The Wall to Parkston should meet at the Dimock Dairy. (Motorcycles, Classic cars, etc.)

3:15 pm: A 50 foot by 30 foot American Flag will be suspended over Main Street near the railroad tracks

3:30 pm: Escort convoy leaves Dimock via Highway 37 heading South (traffic on highway 37 will be stopped for our convoy)
Police and Fire Truck Escort from Dimock
Motorcycles, Corvettes, Classic Cars, and other vehicles join the convoy

3:37 pm: Escort convoy turns down Parkston's Main Street (traffic will be stopped for our convoy to enter Parkston)

3:37 pm: Convertibles carrying Vietnam Veterans join the escort down Main Street - Any Vietnam Veteran who was "In Country" and would like to ride with the escort should meet at the corner of Bismark and Main Street in Parkston before 3:00 to be assigned a car and/or people carrier
Candy will be thrown out by the Vietnam Veterans as they come down Main Street

3:40 pm: The AVTT truck and trailer carrying the Memorial Wall stops in the park

4:00 pm: A Men's Chorus made up of members from communities around us will sing the National Anthem and few other patriotic songs

4:00 pm: Mayor Dave Hoffman will welcome The Wall to the community and kick off the "Celebration of Freedom"

BBQ reception following the Mayor's Welcome! The BBQ is limited to the Vietnam Veterans, their spouses, and those that escorted the wall to town.
- Burgers / Hot Dogs will be served
- Trailer is parked for the evening
- Tents / other items will be erected on site
- Site will be ready for Thursday morning set-up

Mogen's Heroes will be entertaining from 4:00 to 6:30 - The community is welcome to attend!

June 30, 2022

Seating is limited, please bring a lawn chair with you.

There are dining options in town and food vendors will also be onsite. Beer will be sold in the park.

7:00 am: Reville

7:00 am: Rolls and coffee for the volunteers who set up the wall

8:00 am: Volunteers set up the Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall and other Veteran displays in the park (volunteers welcome!)

1:00 pm: The Cost of Freedom Exhibit is opened and will remain open 24 hours a day

1:00 Pm: The Welcome Center opens - Powered by Pepper Entertainment!

1:00 pm: Mike Huether - Former Parkston resident and Former Mayor of Sioux Falls will open the "Celebration of Freedom" event.

1:00-5:00 pm: VA Outreach Coordinator/Minority Veteran Program Coordinator will be on site - Desiree Boyer

1:00-5:00 pm: VA Mobile Outreach Van will be on sight - 40 foot mobile office!

1:00-5:00 pm: Veteran's Service Officer Available

1:20 pm: Blessing of the wall - Reverend Rick Senner

1:30-5:00 pm: Military Displays / Artifacts on display at the Legion Hall downtown (for questions about the military display or for more information please email: [email protected])

1:30 pm: Native American Ceremony: Honoring the Warrior - Native Drum Group and Singers

2:00 pm: Mettler Airbrush Tent - Mickey Harris will be onsite to airbrush a painting to be sold through a silent auction

2:30 pm: Laying of POW MIA and Gold Star mothers' wreaths by the VFW and LEGION Auxiliary

2:45 pm- Presentation of the Missing Man Table by Legion Members

3:00-4:00 pm: Entertainment by Jill Fitzgerald

4:00-5:30 pm: Entertainment - Jordan Jaacks

5:30-6:00 pm: Entertainment - Dakota District Pipes and Drums group

6:00 Pm: Unveiling of the "Helping With Horsepower" motorcycle (a motorcycle rebuilt by Veterans)

6:05 pm: Armed Forces Medley Will Be Played To Recognize All Branches Of Service

6:10 pm: Prayer - Reverend Wayne Uppendahl

6:15 pm: Posting of Colors -Armour and Delmont Legion / VFW Members

6:20 pm: Pledge of Allegiance - Country Wranglers 4H Club from Parkston

6:25 pm: National Anthem: Jill Fitzgerald

6:30 pm: Evening Ceremony - The following will be invited but may not attend:
South Dakota Secretary of Veterans Affairs - Greg Whitlock
VFW National Commander - Matthew M. Fritz Mihelcic (Sparta Illinois)
VFW Incoming National Commander - Tim Borland
VFW State Commander - Tom Hafner
VFW Post 3298 Commander - Charles McKean
VFW District 7 Commander - Dr. Martin Christensen
Legion National Commander - Paul Dillard
Legion Department Commander - Doug Feltman
Legion District 8 Commander - Jennifer VanRockel
Legion Post 194 Commander - Cal Luebke
7:20 pm: Retrieval of colors - Armour and Delmont Legion / VFW Members

7:20 pm: Rifle Detail - Rifle Salute - Wagner Legion / VFW Members

7:25 pm: Taps - Trumpet Player - Daniel Mettler

7:35 pm: Entertainment - 147th Army Band of the South Dakota Army National Guard

July 1, 2022

Seating is limited, please bring a lawn chair with you.

There are dining options in town and there will be food vendors on site. Beer will be sold in the park.

7:00am: Reveille (More about the exhibit can be viewed by clicking HERE.)
Exhibit is open for viewing 24 hours a day

8:00am: The Welcome Center Opens - Powered by Pepper Entertainment!

10:00am-3:00pm: Veteran's Service Officer Available

10:00-5:00 pm: VA Outreach Coordinator/Minority Veteran Program Coordinator will be on site - Desiree Boyer

10:00-5:00 pm: VA Mobile Outreach Van will be on sight - 40 foot mobile office!

10:00-4:30 Military Displays / Artifacts on display at the Legion Hall downtown

12:30-8:45 Free Swimming in the Parkston Community Pool

1:00pm: Mettler Airbrush Tent - Mickey Harris will be onsite to airbrush a painting to be sold through a silent auction (Read more about Mickey by clicking HERE.)

2:00-3:00 pm: Entertainment - Colonel Doug Bormann

3:00-4:00 pm: Entertainment - Jill Fitzgerald

4:00-5:30 pm: Entertainment - Dayna Jones

5:30 pm: Speaker - Mel Olson

6:05 pm: Armed Forces Medley Will Be Played To Recognize All Branches Of Service

6:10 pm: Prayer - Reverend Erika Lehmann

6:15 pm: Posting of colors - Tripp Legion / VFW Members

6:20 pm: Pledge of Allegiance

6:25 pm: National Anthem- Madisyn Raymond

6:30 pm: Speaker - Roger Wiltz - Wagner

7:20 pm: Retrieval of Colors - Tripp Legion / VFW Members

7:20 pm: Rifle Detail - Rifle Salute - Corsica Legion / VFW Members

7:25 pm: Taps - Trumpet Player - Daniel Mettler

7:35 pm: Entertainment - Mogen's Heroes.

July 2, 2022

Seating is limited, please bring a lawn chair with you.

There are dining options in town and there will be food vendors on site. Beer will be sold in the park.

7:00 am: Reveille (More about the exhibit can be viewed by clicking HERE.)
Exhibit is open for viewing 24 hours a day

7:30 am: 4H or other group to do coffee and rolls

8:00 am: The Welcome Center Opens - Powered by Pepper Entertainment!

10:00 am-3:00 pm Veteran's Service Officer Available

10:00-5:00 Midwest Honor Flight will be on sight and available to visit with Veterans about trips to Washington, D.C.

10:00-5:00 Military Displays / Artifacts on display at the Legion Hall downtown

10:00 am: Roundtable discussion with South Dakota Authors of books about Vietnam

Dr. Steven Feimer - "Vietnam Vets - Still Coming Home"
Dave Volk - "Draftee - a high school teacher goes to war"
Rod Boltjes - "Vietnam: As Seen Through the Eyes of Platte Veterans"
Deono Miller / Katina Miller - "The Sniper Inside The Man. My Vietnam Experience: The War, The Aftermath, and The Healing" ( will have limited books on hand at the event)
11:00 am: Hutchinson County 4H will be selling lunch (hamburgers, cheeseburgers, brats, chips, bars) until they run out! They will also have Cherrybean Coffee and Cold Brew Coffee available!

12:30-4:45; 6:00-8:45 Free Swimming in the Parkston Community Pool

1:00 pm: Honoring Ceremony - Law Enforcement, EMS, and Fire Fighters' Appreciation. Laying of a wreath at the 911Memorial Tribute by local police, EMS personnel, and firefighters.

1:00 pm: Mettler Airbrush Tent - Mickey Harris will be onsite to airbrush a painting to be sold through a silent auction.

2:00 pm: Speaker - Harry Sykora - Retired General of the SDARNG

3:00 pm-9:00 pm: Car Show - No entry fee, no prizes and all cars are welcome! Highlighting the Vietnam Era Cars (1955 - 1975)

3:00 pm: Speaker - Marilyn Carlson Aronson

4:00 pm: Dave Rowe - A Vietnam Veteran who was a Disc Jockey in Vietnam will recreate his show: AVFN "From the Delta to the DMZ". Dave will by joined by Bob Folshow from the 1960's band "The Castaways". In 1965 their song "Liar Liar" hit #12 on the charts!

5:00 pm: Community Meal: Pork Loin, Baked Beans, Water - ( Free Will Offering )

5:20 pm: Speakers - Gene Murphy and Lyle Bowes

6:05 pm: Armed Forces Medley Will Be Played To Recognize All Branches Of Service

6:10 pm: Prayer - Reverend Michael Boyle

6:15 pm: Posting of colors - Parkston and Ethan Legion / VFW Members

6:20 pm: Pledge of Allegiance - Individual

6:25 pm: National Anthem: Parkston Congregational Church Men's Chorus

6:30 pm: Evening Ceremony - The following have been invited but not all have confirmed attendance yet:
Major General Jeff Marlette
Governor Kristi Noem
Representative Dusty Johnson
Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds
Mayor Dave Hoffman
Senator Kyle Schoenfish
Representatives Kent Peterson and Marty Overweg
Mike Fitzmaurice - Medal of Honor Recipient

7:20 pm: Retrieval of colors - Parkston and Ethan Legion / VFW Members

7:20 pm: Rifle Detail - Rifle Salute - Parkston and Ethan Legion / VFW Members

7:25 pm: Taps - Trumpet Player - Paul Weidenbach

7:35 pm: Entertainment - Nashville Recording Artist Anna McElroy - Sponsored by C&B Operations

July 3, 2022

Seating is limited, please bring a lawn chair with you.

There are dining options in town and there will be food vendors on site. Beer will be sold in the park.

7:00 am: Reveille (More about the exhibit can be viewed by clicking HERE.)
Exhibit is open for viewing 24 hours a day

7:30 am-12:00 pm: Pancake Breakfast - Free Will Offering

8:00 am: The Welcome Center Opens - Powered by Pepper Entertainment!

9:45 am: Posting of Colors - Menno Legion / VFW Members

10:00 am: Non-Denominational Church Service - Maurice Bieber

10:00 am-3:00 pm: Veteran's Service Officer Available

11:00 am: Retrieval of Colors following Church Service - Menno Legion/VFW

12:20-4:15 Free Swimming in the Parkston Community Pool

12:30-5:00 Military Displays / Artifacts on display at the Legion Hall downtown. Please make sure display items are picked up by 5:00.

1:00 pm: Ride of Honor Motorcycle Rally and bike show on Main Street

1:00 pm-5:00 pm Inflatables for the kids by TNT Inflatables

1:00 pm-3:00 pm: Entertainment - Dayna Jones

3:00 pm-5:00 pm: Entertainment - Geoff Gunderson

5:00 pm: Items can be retrieved from the Legion Hall that were left for display.

5:30 pm-6:00 pm: Entertainment - Joyful Noise (Gail Tiede, Jayne Kinneberg, and Pam Freudenthal)

7:00 pm: Parkston Mudcat Baseball Game at "The Pond" (baseball field in the park)

7:05 pm: Armed Forces Medley Will Be Played To Recognize All Branches Of Service

7:10 pm: Prayer - Father David Stevens

7:15 pm: Presentation of Colors - Mitchell Legion / VFW Members

7:20 pm: Pledge of Allegiance

7:25 pm: National Anthem: Elsa and Ashlyn Tapio

7:30 pm: Rifle Detail - Rifle Salute - Mitchell Legion / VFW Members

7:35 pm: Taps - Trumpet Player - Dean Soukup

7:35 pm: Entertainment - Surfin' Safari

Dusk - Fireworks show will take place at the conclusion of the Mudcats Baseball Game

July 4, 2022

7:00 am: Reveille (More about the exhibit can be viewed by clicking HERE.)

Exhibit will be open until 3:00

8:00 am: The Welcome Center Opens - Powered by Pepper Entertainment!

3:00 pm: Volunteers are welcome to help take The Memorial and other structures down

Date: June 29-July 4, 2022

Locations: Various Venues in Parkston, SD 57366.

Click here for more information