PIERRE — On national holidays, American and state flags line the Pierre Fort Pierre bridge and in Hilger’s Gulch on a windy day as many as 55 American flags fill the air. It’s the work of two local groups and people with both groups say it’s work that is meant to impact the community.

In 1987, local woman Jackie Marso wanted to do something with three American flags that draped the coffins of family members.

“I thought it would be nice to take the veterans flags that people have and display them,” she said.

David Montgomery | Capital Journal American flags fly in Hilger’s Gulch near the Capitol building in Pierre. The flags are put on display in the gulch each year during the Fourth of July holiday. Advertisement

Initially, Marso tried to initiate a project that would have flown veteran flags from across the state around Capitol Lake. Once family members who didn’t know Marso were reluctant to give away their flags to a stranger she said she decided to focus her efforts on the families of local veterans, asking them to purchase poles in Hilgers Gulch to fly their loved one’s flag.

“It just makes me feel real good to know that our flags are being flown, rather than stuffed in a closet some place,” she said. “You come over the hill and it just kind of gives you goose bumps.”

Marso is no longer in charge of the project. Instead, the state Bureau of Administration handles putting the flags up on the 10 national holidays of the year and makes sure new ones are ready to fly when the old become too frayed.

“We’re just continuing what Jackie started, and that’s to honor our deceased military veterans,” said Mike Mueller, Bureau of Administration spokesman. “I’ve always found it wonderful on those holidays to drive by the gulch and see all those flags flying.”

Mueller said the last flag donated came from a veteran’s family who had it shipped back to South Dakota after that veteran died.

A list of whom the flags are for can be found in a registry at the visitors center at the capitol.

The flag project across the bridge is a more recent project. Begun by the Pierre Fort Pierre Exchange Club for the Vietnam War Memorial, the project impressed coordinator, Scott Rounds, and the club so much, they decided to keep it and use it to benefit local youth.

Area businesses can pay to have 17 state and 18 U.S. flags attached to the bridge on national holidays and the funds go to the club whose primary goal is preventing child abuse, said Rounds.

“It’s just a great way to welcome people into Pierre and Fort Pierre,” said Rounds, exchange club president. “You get the word from folks that it’s just a pretty display. It makes everybody feel good.”

In addition to working to prevent child abuse, the exchange club works to promote Americanism, according to Rounds, which encompasses the bridge flag project and another putting flags in front of businesses on national holidays.