American Legion Garretson SD Post 23

05/10/2026

Lucas Schotzko and Aiden Johnson will represent American Legion Garretson Post 23 this year at Boys State!

05/10/2026

Alexis Christensen, Anna Ebbing, Amaya Millwood, and Madison Waltman will represent Garretson Auxiliary Unit #23 at Girls state this year!

05/08/2026

Congratulations to Alexis Christensen and Aiden Johnson for being awarded the American Legion Garretson Post 23 Citizenship Award!

05/08/2026

Congratulations to Tori Steineke, Grade 3 and Asst Track Coach 2026 Garretson American Legion Post 23 Educator of the Year

04/16/2026

Today marked the kick-off of an exciting year of 250th Birthday Celebrations of the signing of the Declaration of Independence hosted by the Garretson American Legion — and what a tremendous success it was!

We were honored to welcome motivational speaker and author V.J. Smith, who spoke to the middle school and high school students at Garretson High School, along with teachers and community members.

His message centered on gratitude — appreciating family, recognizing the gifts and sacrifices made for us, and taking the time to express appreciation through something as simple, yet powerful, as a handwritten thank-you note.

V.J. also shared the powerful history behind the iconic image honored at the United States Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. Dedicated in 1954, the memorial is based on Joe Rosenthal’s 1945 photograph of the second flag-raising on Mount Suribachi during World War II. The monument honors all U.S. Marine Corps personnel who have died in battle since 1775. V.J. brought history to life by sharing who the Iwo Jima soldiers were and what ultimately happened to each of them.

In his latest book, "A Sentimental Journey", V.J. recounts his personal journey visiting the grave sites of the Iwo Jima flag raisers. That experience inspired him to return to his hometown of Eureka, where he rediscovered the remarkable military stories of World War II veterans he had known as a child — men whose service left him in awe.

The impact of his message was evident as students lined up afterward to shake his hand, share their own experiences, and express appreciation.

Thank you, V.J., for sharing your story, your heart, and an unforgettable message with our students and community!

04/15/2026

04/14/2026

Everyone Welcome: Please join us this Thursday, April 16th at the Garretson High School Gym at 9:30 AM for America 250: A Grateful Nation with renowned author V.J. Smith.

This event is part of a community effort to recognize the historic milestone of America's 250th birthday and bring together students, families, Veterans, and community members in a shared celebration of citizenship and service. Sponsored by Henry G. Fix Post 23 and American Legion Auxiliary Unit 23 in partnership with the Garretson School District.

04/12/2026

Plan ahead and get your American Made American Flag from Post 23. We have flags in stock and are ordering more for the summer. Contact Bob Bennett or Tony Grandy if you need one. We also will take used flags for proper retirement.

American Legion Ad Hoc Committee on the 250th Anniversary of America Chairman Daniel J. Seehafer is encouraging all Americans to place their orders for U.S.-made flags from American Legion Emblem Sales ahead of celebrations. Remind your communities – schools, businesses, government offices and residents – that Legion membership is not required to get high-quality, low-cost flags and patriotic merchandise from Emblem Sales.
Read more/order: https://www.legion.org/information-center/news/usa250/2026/april/dont-get-caught-without-the-colors.
America250

04/11/2026

The 2026-2027 Officers were sworn in at the April Meeting by Kevin Hempel, South Dakota American Legion Department Commander. 2026-2027 Post 23 Officers are Commander – Bob Bennett, First Vice – Randy Megard, Adjutant – Tony Grandy, Finance – Brian Siemonsma, Chaplain - Josh Lampe, Historian – Mark Weisner, Social – Rob Meyer, Service Officer – Nancy Grandy, Legislative – Paul Evenson, Americanism – Bob Bennett, Baseball Coordinator – Brian Siemonsma, and Raffle Coordinator – Beth Welch

04/11/2026

Happy 107 Birthday cake provided by the Garretson Unit 23 Auxiliary!