South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden Marks Veterans Day in Column Tracing His Family's Generations of Service
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden published a Veterans Day column, "Serving with Purpose," on November 13 in Pierre, the state capital. Pierre is in Hughes County, South Dakota. In the column, Rhoden traced his family's tradition of military service from the Revolutionary War to today, saying Veterans Day is about more than saying thank you, and is a reminder that each generation must carry freedom forward.
Rhoden wrote that the United States was founded 250 years ago in the midst of a war, that about 230,000 Americans served in that war, and that about 25,000 of them died. General Lafayette brought a contingent from France to help, and Rhoden's great-great-great grandfather and his four brothers were with them. His ancestor survived; his four brothers did not.
Later generations of the family also served. His grandfather fought in World War I, including at the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. His father fought in World War II, including at the Battle of the Bulge. His brother fought in Vietnam.
Rhoden included the full text of the enlistment oath in the column and wrote that he swore that same oath years ago, then followed his family's tradition by serving six years in the National Guard. His son, Cody, also swore the oath and flew Blackhawk helicopters.
Today Rhoden serves as Governor and Commander in Chief of the South Dakota National Guard. He wrote that keeping South Dakota strong, safe, and free is a key component of his mission as Governor.
He closed by citing President Reagan's challenge that each generation of Americans has a responsibility to carry freedom forward, and urged readers, as the nation marks its 250th anniversary, to take an extra moment to thank the men and women in uniform and to remember their own responsibility to defend American freedom.
(Source: Office of the Governor of South Dakota)
Source: Office of the Governor of South Dakota
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：南达科他州议会大厦（Pierre）。WeaponizingArchitecture 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: The South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre. By WeaponizingArchitecture, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
