School children write more than 20,000 letters to SD troops

PIERRE – Gov. Mike Rounds today thanked the more than 20,000 students in the state for writing holiday letters to South Dakota troops who are deployed away from home.

“I am positive that the letters our school children have written, will enlighten the lives of soldiers deployed during the holiday season,” said Gov. Rounds. “I want to thank all of the students and teachers for taking the time to make a soldier’s life a little brighter.”

Last month, Governor Rounds sent a letter to all school districts asking South Dakota elementary and secondary school children to send messages of cheer to U.S. troops deployed away from their friends and families during the holidays.

In the letters, students included information about their own families, communities, schools, school activities, and hobbies. Letters are being sent from the governor’s office to units stationed both overseas and in the United States.  

Alex from Patrick Henry Middle School in Sioux Falls wrote, “I am home during the holidays, you are over there defending our country, and I think you don’t get enough credit for it.  I am very, very, very thankful that someone is that brave to be over there.  I know that if I had a choice, I would be so scared. Thank you so very much.”

The South Dakota National Guard has more than 750 soldiers deployed overseas and 220 on active duty in the United States.  The 323^rd Chemical Company, an Army Reserve unit in Sioux Falls, has more than 130 soldiers serving overseas.