There’s no better way to celebrate Independence Day than honoring our military men and women. Folks watching the July 4th parade in Lennox stood in honor of the American Flag as it passed by, but the moment was made even more special with a unique announcement in front of the Brent and Kim Straatmeyer residence: “Welcome home, Dereck!”
Dereck Straatmeyer, son of Brent and Kim, and 2006 Lennox High School graduate had been serving with the South Dakota Army National Guard’s 155th Engineer Company in Kuwait for the past 11 months. He arrived home two days prior to the Fourth of July. Although his parents and fiancé Jamie knew he was home, all of the other relatives watching the parade were delighted and surprised. Friends and family greeted him with hugs, tears and smiles.
Straatmeyer said, “It was a good experience while we were there, I met a lot of good people; but it’s good to be home!”