In 2019, South Dakota launched the ‘Fallen Heroes Bridge Dedication Program.’
It dedicates state bridges to South Dakotans who were killed in action while serving their country or classified as missing in action.
Bridge dedications are taking place all across South Dakota to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to this nation.
Rex Rolfing’s son, Robb, has a bridge dedicated in his name near Minnesota Avenue and I-229.
Robb was killed in action after 9-11.
“He basically said they can’t do that to us,” Rolfing said.
So Rob joined the Army in 2002 and became a Green Beret.
While serving in Afghanistan disaster struck when he was shot and killed while on a dangerous mission.
“He wasn’t really aiming at anybody just started shooting and one of the bullets caught Robb in the shoulder and went right into his heart,” Rolfing said.
South Dakota Army National Guardsman, Greg Wagner, has a bridge dedicated in his honor that spans the James River on Highway 38.
He was killed by a homemade bomb while serving in Iraq in 2006.
“It hit the passenger side and then the howitzer round went off and made a 30 foot crater,” Dan said.
Dan says his brother was the youngest of seven and was all about family; especially his mom, who they called ‘Blondie’
“He never missed getting mom cards, everything mom’s day Christmas Thanksgiving Easter, Valentine’s Day and it’s kind of ironic after he was killed on May 8th the following weekend was Mother’s Day and his card arrived (let the emotions show)” Dan Wagner said.
Dan talks proudly of his brother who wore a military uniform, but he wore a football uniform too.
Greg played for the Hanson County High School Beavers. He says he wasn’t the star player, but he left a tremendous impact on his teammates and other football players.
“At his funeral the whole team were there with their uniforms on lining the cemetery,” Dan said.
The following year the school decided to do something extra special to honor Greg.
“Like I said he was not a football star, but they decided, the school decided unanimously to retire his football jersey, the only time it’s ever been done,” Dan said.
Both families along with 58 others now have bridges dedicated in their names thanks to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Each has its own story of fallen soldiers making the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.
“It gives our state and our communities an opportunity to thank those families and those veterans who sacrificed their lives for us,” South Dakota’s Secretary of Veterans Affairs Greg Whitlock said.
“When you go to these events and you listen to those stories it’s very emotional everyone I’ve been to is very emotional”
“I don’t feel like it’s for us the family to be recognized even though it’s something we cherish, but for the people around Alec and Mitchell every time there’s a lot of traffic that goes over that bridge and to see that and just remember him keep that memory alive that’s what we strive for,” Dan said.
“Our hope is that some father, some mother, uncle, some aunt, some grandpa is going to be driving by and their six or eight year old grandson or daughter is going to be saying ‘Robb Rolfing who is that’ and then grandma and grandpa or somebody with them is going to say that’s a hero, he’s the one because I’m taking you to a soccer game because I’m taking you to this and doing that he’s the one to make that possible, that’s what I hope that kind of thing does,” Rolfing said.
Aaron Pollard is the Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs but he’s also a veteran.
“I think as a veteran who served, but somebody who is an American and a South Dakotan it’s important to recognize what it means to be an American and to live in this country and the fact that if we didn’t have folks who are willing to give up their lives for us we wouldn’t live in the the world that we live in today,” Pollard said.
“We want people to remember our heroes and there’s so many of them that need remembering, too many,” Wagner said.
There’s going to be another bridge dedication in honor of First Lieutenant Josef L. Thorne this coming Veterans Day in Beresford at the high school gymnasium.
To learn more about the program and see the complete list of fallen heroes, click here.
