As has been the case in recent years, the local Memorial Day service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on the official holiday which is next Monday, May 30. Again the service will be under the auspices of Brethorst-Burma Post No. 174 of the American Legion, a tradition which dates back over nine decades, and will be held at the Lennox Legion Hall.
This year’s Memorial Day speaker will be Kirk Easton who has served as the superintendent of the Lennox School District the past two years. He and his family soon will be moving to Spearfish where he will assume his duties there as school superintendent.
Mr. Easton grew up in the Edgemont, SD area but graduated from Custer High School in the late 80’s. Graduating from Black Hills State University, Easton’s first teaching job was in Topeka, KS. In 2002 he took his first administrative position with the Warner, SD School District as their 6-12 principal and then served as superintendent for eight years before coming to Lennox.
A military veteran, Mr. Easton enlisted in the Army National Guard under the delayed entry program in 1987 with the 214th Baily Bridge Company of Custer, taking his basic training after graduating from high school in 1988. Later he transferred to other units and soon after joining the 1742nd Transportation Company of Flandreau, his unit was activated for service in Iraq from January 2003 to April of 2004. He retired from the Guard the following year.
Kirk Easton and his wife of 26 years, Jacky, have two children. Their son, Tennison, is a junior at SDSU, and their daughter, Kenni, has just completed her sophomore year in high school.
Also as in previous years, the Lennox Municipal Band will provide the music for the Memorial Day service. Under the direction of Byron Youngquist, South Dakota’s oldest continuous musical organization will favor the audience with a number of selections in addition to playing the national anthem.
The presentation of student academic and citizenship awards will be made by Post Commander John Kirchner and Post Adjutant Scott Ford. A number of students will participate in the program, their names, along with those of award winners, being listed in the program found on page 2.
Commander Kirchner reminds that everyone is encouraged to attend the local Memorial Day service, remembering to honor the memory of those who made great sacrifices in service to their country and for the defense of liberty. Local Legion Post members will, as in years past, honor their fallen comrades on Memorial Day with the placing of flags on veterans’ graves, as well as with the Avenue of Flags at the cemetery and the flags along local thoroughfares.
It is also noted that Memorial Day is a most appropriate time to visit the Lennox Veterans Memorial site and perhaps read the names engraved on the monument and the many bricks at the site. Anyone interested in securing one of these engraved bricks honoring a veteran with a local connection, should contact Larry DeVries, Tony Groebner or Verlyn Hofer.