Avera Health has dropped a $250,000 check on the folks working toward a new State Veterans Cemetery just north of Sioux Falls.
A big ‘Wow’ from Terry Paulsen with the State Veterans Council.
“We couldn’t be happier. We had been in talks with them, but didn’t know exactly what the amount would be. We were just ecstatic.”
Sanford Health and the American Legion have both pitched in $50,000 each, and thousands more dollars have been donated by various veterans groups.
The goal for the endowment fund is $3 million. Paulsen says there already around $450,000.
Paulsen says the money will be used for operating costs after the cemetery is built using federal money.
This will be South Dakota’s first state veterans cemetery. There is the national veterans cemetery near Sturgis, but this will give thousands of veterans in the eastern part of the state a more convenient resting place.
(KELO)