PIERRE The South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs will be hosting a State Bridge Dedication Ceremony to honor U.S. Army Private First Class Fred D. Larson. The ceremony will be July 12 at 2:30 p.m. at the Pollock Community Center in Pollock (916 F. Ave).
This dedication is part of the Fallen Heroes Bridge Dedication Program, which was launched during the Noem-Rhoden Administration and expanded under Gov. Larry Rhoden. In partnership with the South Dakota Departments of Military, Transportation, and Veterans Affairs, this program creates visible and enduring tributes that connect communities to their history and remind future generations of the cost of freedom.
It is an honor to recognize the brave men and women who gave their lives for our freedom, said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jeremiah Schneider. The Fallen Hero Bridge Dedication program ensures their sacrifice is remembered every day. These dedications serve as lasting symbols of gratitude and respect, connecting our communities to the legacy of those who served.
The state Highway 10 bridge over Lake Pocasse, just east of Pollock, will be dedicated as the PFC Fred D. Larson Bridge.
Larson was born June 22, 1949, and raised in Pollock. Larson was drafted into the U.S. Army on Aug. 19, 1969, and deployed to Vietnam on Jan. 15, 1970, as part of the 6th Battalion, 11th Artillery, C Battery. On April 24, 1970 his mothers 55th birthday he was killed in action near Lang Dong Ban in Quang Ngai Province, South Vietnam, while bravely volunteering to search a suspected enemy dwelling, where he triggered a land mine.
As we honor their memory, we also reaffirm our commitment to support veterans and their families in every way possible, Schneider said. Through these bridges, their stories remain a vital part of South Dakotas heritage and a constant reminder of the freedoms we cherish.
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