WWII veterans to be honored Thursday

HURON — All World WarII veterans living in Beadle County will be honored at a commemoration ceremony at 11 a.m. Thursday at the VFW Post in the Huron Mall.
Beadle County Veterans Service Officer Taylor Jans said there are currently 37 WWII veterans living in Beadle County. Two of those are in nursing facilities. Friends and family of honored veterans are also invited.
Secretary Larry Zimmerman, head of the S.D. Veterans Affairs, will be guest speaker at a short program.
“This all came about because the state Department of Veteran Affairs wants to recognize all living veterans that were in WWII,” said Jans, who mailed invitations to each WWII veteran in the county.

“This is my first get-your-feet wet event,” added Jans, who started in his position Dec. 26.
“We will present each of the veterans with a certificate and a commemorative coin,” Jans said. “In South Dakota we love our veterans and we always want to recognize them. This is our way of showing our appreciation and saying thank you — not only to veterans, but their families as well. Their families had to sacrifice as well.”
Although the ceremony is for WWII veterans, Jans said he invites all veterans to attend and see what benefits are available to them and their families. For more information call Jans at 353-8415.

CRYSTAL PUGSLEY/PLAINSMAN
Beadle County Veterans Service Officer Taylor Jans is organizing a ceremony planned Thursday to recognize living World War II veterans in Beadle County. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at the VFW Post, located in Huron Mall.