The Seiner family is our sponsor for the first half of 2021. They have donated for the purchase of six Service Flags and one large United States Flag to honor our men and women who have served our country.

The Seiner family has a long tradition of military service to our country. To date, there have been four generations of soldiers who have served in our nation’s military, defending and upholding the constitution of the United States. In April, 1917 Stanley E. Seiner, was a member of Company M, 4th South Dakota Infantry in Yankton and was activated for service in WWI. Stanley was assigned to Headquarters Company of the 147th Field Artillery.

The 147th trained for war at Camp Greene, N.C., until January 1918 when they were deployed to England and eventually to France. The 147th Artillery Regiment participated in many battles in France. Stanley came home on May 23, 1919. After the war’s end, the 147th Field Artillery was retained as part of the South Dakota National Guard.

Edward L. Seiner, son of Stanley Seiner served in WWII in the Pacific theatre. Edward was born in Tabor and grew up in Wagner. On October 25, 1942 he began basic training and later was sent out by the 804th aviation Engineer Battalion to build runways on the islands in the Pacific taken by USS forces He came home October 25, 1945.

Edward S. Seiner son of Edward L. Seiner joined the US Army as a journalist upon graduating from Wagner High School in 1967. He served in Vietnam from March 1968 to March 1969. He was discharged August 21, 1970 at the US Army Personnel Center in Oakland, CA.

Jerry Seiner, son of Edward S. Seiner, joined the South Dakota National Guard in July 2970. He attended weekend drills and annual training until January 1985 when he accepted a full time position with the National Guard unit with the 854th Engineer Company in Wagner. He was the supply sergeant for the 854th Water Supply Company and the 854th Medium Girder Bridge Company. In 1993 statewide unit reorganization designated the Wagner unit as Company A, 153rd Engineer Battalion, a combat engineer company. Jerry served as the Training NCO and later as the Readiness NCO and Operations Sergeant. In November of 2003 the unit was activated for duty in Iraq. They were deployed February 21, 2004 with the mission of locating roadside bombs and defusing the. They returned home to the US on February 21, 2005. Jerry retired from the South Dakota National Guard on December, 2005 after 35 years of service.

Scott Seiner, son of Jerry, j oined the SD National Guard 153rd Engr Bn and was deployed to Iraq in 2003 along with his father Jerry. Scott now is an Operations Sergeant of the 196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in Sioux Falls and is currently deployed to Djibouti, Africa.

Jeffrey Seinerjoined the SD National Guard after graduating from Wagner High School in August 2006. He attended basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO as a combat engineer. He completed his enlistment in August 2012 and was honorable discharged from the SD National Guard.

Cody Seiner joined the 211st Engineer Company in Madison in October 2008. He left for basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO and then was deployed to Afghanistan as a vehicle driver and provided security on numerous missions during this deployment. Cody remained in the 211th until 2017, completing nine years of service inthe South Dakota National Guard.

All of the servicemen in our family have been proud to serve their country, but they are not the only ones who sacrificed. Each had families who carried the burden at home, fearing for their soldiers on a daily basis, not knowing when or if their loved on would return. Fortunately, none made the ultimate sacrifice and all were reunited with their families.

Armed Forces Memorial

The flags have flown daily over the Memorial for the past 26 years and are replaced every six months. There are over 1,000 names listed on the memorial. The memorial is located sout of the city park. Anyone interested in adding a family member name to the Memorial, please contact Lee Bridge at 384-5363, Tom Thaler 491-2844 or Jason VonEschen 481-0393. We appreciate the businesses and families who have participated in purchasing the flags for the past 26 years. This could not be done without everyone. God bless you all and pray for our military personnel protecting our Country.

-Memorial Board Members