For immediate release: Thursday, August 2, 2012

Contact: Kristi Sandal, Public Information Officer, 605-773-3265 

                          Dedication Ceremony for Interstate 90 as the “Purple Heart Trail” to be Held 

PIERRE, S.D. – A dedication ceremony to acknowledge the designation of Interstate 90 from the Wyoming border to the Minnesota border as the “Purple Heart Trail” will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 7, which is National Purple Heart Appreciation Day.

 Ceremonies will be held concurrently at two rest area locations:

• I-90 Valley Springs Rest Area located near the South Dakota/Minnesota border at 2:00 p.m. CDT
  
  
• I-90 Spearfish Rest area near the South Dakota/Wyoming border at 1:00 p.m. MDT

The South Dakota Transportation Commission recently approved a request from the Military Order of the Purple Heart to designate Interstate 90 as the “Purple Heart Trail.”

Mark Williamson, Commander of the Sioux Falls chapter and the Senior Vice Commander of the Department of Dakotas of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, says the purpose of the Purple Heart Trail is to create a symbolic and honorary system of roads, highways, bridges and other monuments that pay tribute to the men and women who received the Purple Heart Medal.

Currently, 45 states and Guam have designated parts of the national road and interstate highway system as Purple Heart Trails.

“I would like recipients of the Purple Heart who drive across our state to stop at one of our rest areas and see that South Dakota cares,” said Robert Benson, a state Transportation Commission member and retired National Guard brigadier general.

Acknowledgement markers will be placed at rest areas along Interstate 90. A sample of the marker is expected to be on display at the dedication ceremony.

For more information, contact Mark Williamson at 605-594-3791. 

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