Sioux Falls, SD – The South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs will host its annual Memorial Day program on Monday, May 25, 2026, at the Michael J. Fitzmaurice State Veterans Home, 2500 Minnekahta Avenue, Hot Springs. The program will begin at 10:00 a.m. (MT).

Darren Russell, Fall River County Veteran Service Officer, will serve as the keynote speaker for the event. A local to the area, Russell dedicated 20 years of service to the United States Army before continuing his commitment to fellow veterans through advocacy and support. Since his retirement from military service, he has worked to connect veterans with the benefits and resources they have earned.

“Memorial Day calls us to do more than lay wreaths and lower flags,” said SDDVA Secretary Jeremiah Schneider. “It calls us to carry forward the legacy of those who gave their last full measure by standing beside their families, lifting their fellow veterans, and living lives worthy of the freedom they secured for us.”

The public is invited to attend. For more information, please contact Michael J. Fitzmaurice State Veterans Home at 605.519.5445.

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