The state legislature is considering Senate Bill 91, which would build a state veterans cemetery in Sioux Falls.
KELOLAND News sat down with 92-year-old Navy veteran Doug Starr of Sioux Falls.
He not only served in World War II, but also in Korea. When asking Starr if he preferred Doug or Douglas, with a laugh he said, "I've been called all kinds of things." He had some serious thoughts, though, on a possible state veterans cemetery in Sioux Falls, something he'd like to see happen.
"I think it's a way to honor veterans," Starr said.
In any other cemetery, it'd be different.
"But if you're buried in a veterans cemetery, this is something that has a flag, and it has the veterans, and it's an honor to be buried in that cemetery," Starr said.
According to retired Navy Captain Diane Diekman of Sioux Falls, other than the national veterans cemetery in the Black Hills, there's no other place for a veteran to be buried in a veterans cemetery in South Dakota. She supports building a state veterans cemetery in Sioux Falls.
"Oh I think it's a great idea," Diekman said. "I think the timing is right, the place is right...for the city of Sioux Falls to be willing to donate the land, it's all falling into place."
Diekman sees agreement on the issue.
"Everybody's lining up to support this, and it's something that's really needed around here," Diekman said.
Starr says VFW Post 628 has members from different states.
"They could be buried here," Starr said. "Even though they come from Nebraska, Iowa, someplace."
He's already got an idea of what it'd look like.
"If it's all veterans, all the graves get their flags. So it's going to be a cemetery full of flags," Starr said.
The City of Sioux Falls will have a second reading next week regarding the donated land near Interstate 229 and Interstate 90 in eastern Sioux Falls. Senate Bills 91 and 118 are making their way through the state legislature right now.
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