Veterans Day celebrations

Custer County is getting ready to honor veterans for their service with events Nov. 11 and 12.
Starting in late October, Hometown Hero banners were hung on light poles around the City of Custer. The banners individually recognize veterans with photos in uniform and brief descriptions of their service.
On Wednesday, Nov. 11, the 1881 Courthouse Museum is presenting a Veterans Day Tribute from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For one day only, guests can tour the museum for free and visit the top floor courtroom where a temporary exhibit of military uniforms, service member stories, photos and other interesting artifacts will be on display.
At 11 a.m., the American Legion Post No. 46 and Custer VFW Post 3442 will have a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial at 11 a.m. The combined Custer Honor Guard will provide a rifle volley and “Taps.”
As a small token of appreciation for their service and sacrifice, veterans are invited to a free Veterans Day lunch at Hermosa School. Junior kindergarten through third grade lunch is from 10:55-11:25 a.m., and fourth through eighth grade lunch is from 12:35-1:05 p.m.
Hermosa School is also honoring veterans with its Wall of Heroes. Community members can bring a picture of their veteran to the school office where a photocopy is immediately made, and the original photo is returned. Alternatively, community members can email a high-quality digital photo to Tabitha Stevenson at Tabitha.Stevenson@k12.sd.us. Please include the veteran’s name along with the photo. All the submitted photos will be added to the Wall of Heroes.
The 32nd Annual Custer School District Veterans Day Program begins at 2 p.m. in the Custer Armory. Each year, the Custer School District presents an hour-long program to honor its veterans. This year’s theme is “Our Veterans. Our Stories. Our Legacy.” Special video interviews are being done with Custer High School Media of local veterans to capture their stories, and clips will be shared during the program.
The program is sponsored by Custer American Legion Post No. 46 and completely run by the students. It consists of flag posting, patriotic music performed by elementary classes, the band and the choir, POW/MIA ceremony, remembrance of the deceased veterans from the past year, individual recognition of each veteran in attendance, a dramatic reading and flag retirement. The guest speaker will be Command Sgt. Maj. Richard A. Efird, retired.
According to tradition, the Custer County Democrats and Custer County Republicans will partner to provide treats and refreshments after the program for everyone. 
The Kenneth Kuper VFW Post No. 3442 is hosting a potluck starting at 3:30 p.m. after the Custer School District Veterans Day Program. Everyone is welcome to come to the Custer VFW to honor the veterans in the community. Attendees are asked to bring a dish to share, and all veterans will receive a free drink.
Finally, the American Legion Post No. 303 is hosting its annual chicken noodle soup and chili feed from 5-7 p.m. at the post home in Hermosa as a time of fellowship for the veterans. The event is open to the community and is based on free will donations.
On Thursday, Nov. 12, the Elk Mountain School Veterans Day events will start at 12 p.m. with a simple lunch, followed by a patriotic program. The Custer American Legion and students will retire the flag, raise a new one, and the program will formally begin. The theme is “America 250” with an emphasis on the signers of the Declaration of Independence. In class, students have been learning about the Declaration of Independence and its history.
They have also been working on family projects focused on individual signers that will be shared during the program. Veterans will speak, and students from kindergarten through 11th grade will perform patriotic music and present each veteran with a gift, a card and a rose.
“This event is one small way the Elk Mountain School community can express its great gratitude and appreciation for all that our veterans have done for us,” said Elk Mountain School District superintendent Lisa Pitts.