Cagley-Smith Post #60 has, since the close of WWI, conducted Memorial Day services to remember and honor those departed servicemen and women who have answered the supreme call.

Traditions have changed and while early graves were decorated with the red geranium, today we place a small flag at the head of the grave of all our departed. These flags are placed at Clark Center, Rosehill, St. Boniface, Hauge, South Elrod, Merton, Calvary Lutheran at Bradley, St. Thomas at Crocker and Good Hope cemeteries. A program consisting of patriotic readings, speakers and special music is held. Following this program, the local high school band led the parade down main street to the Soldiers Monument where ceremonies to honor veterans of all wars were conducted. From here they would march to Rosehill and St. Boniface to conduct services. This tradition has slowly narrowed with the school band no longer participating and marching any distance to the cemetery has been replaced with the luxury of the automobile.
But regardless of the change, the spirit of remembrance is still prevalent.

The Post initiated a call to families who had received the flag from their loved ones funeral service to donate it if they were not displaying it. If they wished to donate their flag, it would be labeled with the name of the deceased veteran and the family who donated it. These large flags are displayed each Memorial Day at the two cemeteries in Clark and the Flat Iron Park. Over 50 families responded to the call. In addition to the flags displayed on Memorial Day, three flags are on display at all times in the Legion Hall.

The 48 Star Flag was given by the William T Voss Family; the 49 Star Flag was given by Legion members Bob Bauman, Kendall Heiden, Alvah Macer,Jim Arthur, Bob Harding and Funeral Director Greg Furness; the 50 Star Flag was given by Don and Janet Roerich in Memory of Ken Anderson.

See Photos in Photo Gallery

View more history for Post 60 in Clark, South Dakota