How Many South Dakotans Have Perished In War?

Veterans Day is a time to reflect on those who have served our country with distinction in our nation's military. But not all of those service members make it home.

Since gaining statehood in 1889, South Dakota has sent its very best to each and every conflict the U.S. has been involved in. From the Spanish American War, all the way to Iraq and Afghanistan, those who serve in the armed forces have brought great pride to the Mount Rushmore State.

World War One was the first armed conflict that saw South Dakotans give their own lives in defense of our nation, but it was hardly the last.

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How Many South Dakotans Have Made The Ultimate Sacrifice For Our Nation?

According to the State of South Dakota Website, 3,073 individuals from the state of South Dakota have died while serving in the armed forces of the United States.

This Veterans Day, take the time to think about the great sacrifice each and every one of them made to ensure our country's liberties.

For more information on South Dakota's history in American wars, visit the State of South Dakota Website.

Story Source: State of South Dakota Website

They left their homes, a journey to embrace,
To serve and protect, a solemn, sacred trust.
Through jungles, deserts, or a distant place,
They answered the call, though time turned their youth to dust. 

Some faced the chaos, where bullets flew and fell,
Some stood their ground and followed every command.
They bore the scars, the stories they won't tell,
From the air, the sea, or the shifting, foreign sand. 

They came back changed, not always the same,
Though some made it home, others did not.
They carry the memories, a flickering flame,
Of brothers and sisters, now a silent, hallowed lot. 

For the price they paid, and the freedom they preserved,
For the strength they showed, against every storm.
We stand in their debt, for all that they preserved,
So let us honor the veteran, in every shape and form.

-The Veterans Path Poem