Memorial to honor Gold Star families will be added to Veterans Memorial Park

Update: The Gold Star Families Memorial Monument groundbreaking has been moved because of today’s inclement weather to the VFW at 1600 W. Russell Ave.

Greg Wagner made the ultimate sacrifice when a roadside bomb blew up the vehicle the National Guardsman from Mitchell was riding in 16 years ago next month in Baghdad, Iraq.

Ever since, his mother, six siblings, nieces and nephews have paid the price every day. Greg isn’t there when they gather for the opening day of pheasant season every fall. They miss his smile at family gatherings and talking with him about his favorite football teams: the Hanson High School Beavers, the Minnesota Vikings, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. In his hometown of Alexandria, Greg had taken over the honor of calling out the roll every Memorial Day from his late father; now his name is among those that echo in the air.

Dan Wagner of Sioux Falls, one of Greg’s four older brothers, still chokes up when he talks about his baby brother.

“I don’t think we’ll ever get out of the grieving stage,” he said. “It’s still tough to talk about, but I just want people to remember.”

Soon, a memorial that will help people remember will stand in Veterans Memorial Park in Sioux Falls. The groundbreaking for a Gold Star Memorial Monument is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

The parents, siblings and extended family who have lost a loved one defending freedom can be said to have experienced a sense of loss and pain unlike any other. They are called Gold Star families. The term comes from the service flags relatives of those in the U.S. Armed Forces can display in their windows. A blue star depicts an active service member. A gold star with the blue border stands for a service member who died in a military operation.

Dan Wagner serves on the planning committee that is bringing a permanent monument to Sioux Falls this fall. Rex Rolfing of Sioux Falls, whose son Staff Sgt. Robb Rolfing was killed in action in 2007, is the other Gold Star representative. They are joined by Kim Vennard, president, VFW Auxiliary; Dave Trei, past commandant, Marine Corps League; and Don Kranz, commander, Sioux Falls Veterans Council. Terry Hofmeyer served on the committee until he resigned for health reasons. Bob Preloger is helping with the fundraising,

“Our fundraising effort has gone quite well,” Preloger said. “We’re over 82 percent of our $100,000 goal in gifts and pledges, and are on track to compete the campaign by our May 15 deadline.” Rudy M. Navarrete’s Tex-Mexican Catering will host a fundraising taco bar from 5 to 9 p.m. April 13 at the VFW Post in Brandon.

The Gold Star Memorial Monument in Sioux Falls will be the second in South Dakota. Another memorial is in progress in Sturgis. That will be dedicated at the 82nd Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August. The Sioux Falls monument will be dedicated Sept. 26.

Sioux Falls Gold Star Families is part of the Woody Williams Foundation, a national nonprofit organization. It is dedicated to pursuing the vision of World War II Medal of Honor recipient Hershel “Woody” Williams to honor, recognize and serve families whose loved ones died serving their country.

Currently, there are 175 active Gold Star communities, and 90 monuments have been installed, with 85 projects in process across the 50 states and one U.S. territory.

In addition to local contributions, the  Woody Williams Foundation also makes a donation.

Fundraising does not come easily to  Wagner, but his passion for the project overcame a reluctance to ask others to donate. He is doing it in part for his mother, Velma “Blondie” Wagner, who now lives in Mitchell and has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

It has taken away some of her memories, but the years of loss since Greg’s death still resonate.

“I know how much my mother went through because of his loss. I just felt that while she’s still alive, she should know that her contribution was as significant as Greg’s,” Wagner said.

According to the foundation, Gold Star monuments are intended to provide a space families can call their own in honor of their loved ones; show the families that the community cares for them and appreciates their sacrifice; establish and strengthen Gold Star Family communities through outreach events; and educate the general public.

“This is just another way of remembering Greg and other fallen soldiers and a way to help other families know their sacrifice wasn’t forgotten,” Wagner said.

Gold Star families, state and local veterans organizations and representatives from the military will attend the groundbreaking. Michael Fitzmaurice, a Vietnam War veteran and recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, plans to attend. Fitzmaurice, who was raised in Cavour, is South Dakota’s lone surviving Congressional Medal of Honor recipient. The state veterans home in Hot Springs bears his name.

Groundbreaking planned

Local leaders will break ground on the new Gold Star Memorial Monument at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, at Veterans Memorial Park, 1021 W. Bailey St. The event is open to the public.

A way to help

Rudy M. Navarrete’s Tex-Mexican Catering will host a taco bar from 5 to 9 p.m. April 13 at the Brandon VFW Post 4726 Three Rivers, 321 Main Ave. , to raise funds for the Gold Star Family Memorial. Diners are asked to donate at least $12. All proceeds will go to the memorial. Ground beef, chicken, pork, rice, beans and taco fixings will be served.