Day County Veterans Service Office

06/09/2026

"The Wall That Heals": The Vietnam Veterans Traveling Memorial Wall will be in Brookings, SD, June 11-14.
The City of Brookings, S.D., is honored to welcome The Wall That Heals, a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, along with its Mobile Education Center. It will be The Wall's only visit to South Dakota in 2026. The exhibit will be open 24 hours a day beginning on June 11 and ending at 2:00 p.m. on June 14 at the Fishback Soccer Complex: 1100 20th St. S., Brookings, SD. The exhibit is free for the public to experience.

The City of Brookings, S.D., is honored to welcome The Wall That Heals, a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, along with its Mobile Education Center. It will be The Wall's only visit to South Dakota in 2026. The exhibit will be open 24 hours a day beginning on June 11 and e...

05/21/2026

Day County Family of Veterans: Received a phone call today that a family wants to donate a recliner lift chair to a local Veteran. If you know of a local Veteran who could use one, please call our office at (605) 345-9512. Thanks!

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02/19/2026

Day Co. Veterans: Free Fishing Rod Building Class Sat, April 11th 9am-5pm. Contact Jeff to register for the class, class limited to 10 Day Co. Vets. To register via Email [email protected] or Call 605.345.9512 or Text 605.265.1116.

10/22/2025

Day Co. Family of Veterans, it's Veteran Buddy Check Week, so give your Brother or Sister a call...it's time to reconnect!

Veteran Buddy Check Week encourages Veterans to connect or reconnect with their Veteran friends–just to check in. This week aims to enhance peer-to-peer connections, improve mental health, and increase access to resources.

You can find information, Veteran resources and sample scripts at https://www.sdsuicideprevention.org/risks/populations/veterans.
Veterans can also call 988 and press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line, chat online at www.VeteransCrisisLine.net or send a text message to 838255 to receive free, confidential support.

10/21/2025

Day Co. Family of Veterans,
I’ve been receiving questions regarding the recent government shutdown, and I wanted to let everyone know that approximately 97% of VA employees are still working to take care of our veterans' needs.
During the government shutdown, most VA services, including healthcare, compensation, and pension benefits, continue to operate as usual because VA funding for these critical areas is typically appropriated a year in advance.

Services that continue:
Healthcare: VA Medical Centers, outpatient clinics, and Vet Centers remain open and provide services.
Benefits payments: Compensation, pension, and housing benefit payments will continue to be processed and delivered.
Burials: Interments, scheduling, and processing of headstones and markers at national cemeteries will continue.
Board of Veterans' Appeals: Decisions on veterans' cases will continue.
Contact centers: The MyVA411 and PACT Act contact centers will remain open, as will the Veterans Crisis Line.

https://department.va.gov/contingency-planning/ #:~:text=The%20Department%20of%20Veterans%20Affairs,continue%20decisions%20on%20Veterans'%20cases.

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03/11/2025

I want to register to be able to build a fishing rod with the Sd gfp on April. 5 th Dennis kozak

03/10/2025

Please Share/Spread the Word to our Day Co. Family of Veterans...
Day Co. Veterans: Through a generous local donation, our office was gifted 5 free tickets to the "Shake Your Shamrock Steak Supper" held this Friday, March 15th from 5pm-7pm at the Webster Armory. The donor would like these tickets to go to local Veterans to say, "Thank You for Your Service". For tickets, please call our office at 345-9512 or text (605) 265-1116.

03/06/2025

Friends, Please share & spread the word on an upcoming event we're holding for our Day Co. Vets...

Day Co. Veterans: Build Your Own Fishing Rod…Free!
The Day Co. Veterans Service Office is holding a free fishing rod building class in conjunction with the SD GF&P.
Instructors and everything Day Co. Veterans need to build a free 6 ½ ft. med. action 100% graphite spinning rod is being provided by the SD GF&P Educational Outreach Program.
WHEN: Sat, April 5th 8am-5pm
WHERE: Day Co. Courthouse Community Room (Basement)
*Day Co. Vets: RSVP by Wed, Apr 2nd
Office: (605) 345-9512
Email: [email protected]
Text: (605) 265-1116

02/18/2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4H7oL5LFIE

In a recent video message from his desk at the VA Central Office, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins addressed media concerns that Veterans’ benefits...

02/06/2025

Day Co. Family of Vets:
Our new Secretary of the VA - Sec. Doug Collins’ message to Veterans and VA employees.
February 5, 2025...

In a recent video message from his desk at VA Central Office, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins addressed media concerns that Veterans’ benefits might be targeted for cuts.

“I’m the Secretary of VA, and I’m telling you right now, that’s not happening… the reality is, Veterans benefits aren’t getting cut,” Collins said. “In fact, we are actually giving and improving services.”

He went on to emphasize that the Veterans Benefits Administration is clearing cases faster than ever and that VA remains mission-focused by doing what it is supposed to do.

Now, in his first full week on the job, Collins also addressed concerns about the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and rumors regarding access to Veterans’ personal information. He clarified that DOGE representatives at VA are reviewing contracts to ensure operations remain efficient and that resources are directed toward services for Veterans.

“I’m happy to partner with them to find things we need to get rid of so we can put the money where it belongs… back with our Veterans,” he said.

Collins reinforced VA’s dedication to fulfilling its mission under President Trump’s leadership and concluded his message with an assurance of ongoing transparency regarding developments at VA.

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