State to Honor Six Fallen WWII Heroes at Regional Bridge Dedication Ceremony

State to commemorate six fallen WWII heroes with a dedicated bridge ceremony, honoring their sacrifice.

Northeast Radio SD News – South Dakota - The South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs (SDDVA) is set to host a regional ceremony to dedicate six state bridges in honor of World War II veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation. This expanded effort, part of the ongoing Fallen Heroes Bridge Dedication Program, will create permanent, visible tributes connecting communities across South Dakota to their history.

The dedication ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. (CT) at the South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance in Sioux Falls (1600 W. Russell St.).

Commitment to Remembering Sacrifices

The Fallen Heroes Bridge Dedication Program was launched during the Noem-Rhoden Administration and has been significantly expanded under Governor Rhoden. The program partners the SDDVA with the South Dakota Departments of Military and Transportation to establish enduring markers that remind future generations of the significant cost of freedom.

"The South Dakota Department of Veterans Affairs is excited to recognize more of our fallen this year than we have in past years,” said Aaron Pollard, Deputy Secretary of the SDDVA. "We will accomplish this by adding a regional event where multiple South Dakotans will be recognized. While this event will have a different look from other Fallen Hero Bridge Dedications, we are committed to recognizing the sacrifices made by each individual."

Pollard added that by hosting a regional event, the Department can dedicate more bridges, thereby drawing greater attention to the program's significance.

The ceremony will honor six South Dakotans, with each receiving a permanent tribute along the state's roadways:

· WT2 Porter L. Rich Bridge: The US HWY-14 bridge, two miles east of DeSmet, will be dedicated in honor of Water Tender Second Class Rich. He served in the U.S. Navy and was killed in action on December 7, 1941, while serving on the USS Oklahoma anchored at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

· MM2 Milton L. Muller Bridge: The SD HWY-38 bridge over the East Fork Vermillion River, east of Montrose, will be dedicated to Machinist’s Mate Second Class Muller. He served in the U.S. Navy and was killed in action on December 25, 1943, while serving on the USS Leary in the Atlantic.

· CPL Harvey H. Henle Bridge: The SD HWY-11 bridge over Split Rock Creek, two miles north of Brandon, will be dedicated to Corporal Henle. He served in the U.S. Army and was killed in action on June 16, 1944, just days following D-Day in Normandy, France.

· SGT Alvin W. Erpenbach Bridge: The SD HWY-42 bridge over the James River, eight miles west of Ethan, will be dedicated to Sergeant Erpenbach. He served in the U.S. Army and was killed in action on September 7, 1944, while defending a bridge in Italy.

·  PVT Marvin L. Gunderson Bridge: The SD HWY-19 bridge over the West Fork Vermillion River, north of Parker, will be dedicated to Private Gunderson. He served in the U.S. Army and was killed in action on April 3, 1945, in Okinawa, Japan.

·  PFC Leland L. Nielson Bridge: The SD HWY-19 bridge over the Vermillion River, 11 miles north of Volin, will be dedicated to Private First Class Nielson. He served in the U.S. Army and was killed in action on June 29, 1945, in Mindanao, Philippines.

This regional dedication event highlights a positive expansion of the program, ensuring that the sacrifices of South Dakota's fallen heroes are honored efficiently and prominently across the state for generations to come. http://vetaffairs.sd.gov/