MENNO SLAYS THE 4TH

It wasn’t the rain that poured in, but rather the people as thousands flooded Menno for the biggest small-town Independence Day celebration around.

The true meaning of the Fourth of July — American independence guarded by those willing to stand up and protect her freedoms — isn’t lost on Gary Schelske.

His grandfather, John, served in World War 1, his father, Theodore, served in World War 2, and Gary himself is veteran of the Vietnam War.

“And many, many families around here are the same,” he said. “Menno has a long history of service in the military; stepping up in both the first World War, the second World War and right on into Korea and Vietnam.”

Schelske believes that dedication to the Armed Forces and deep love for country is foundational to what is among the finest Fourth of July celebrations found anywhere — an observance held every year on Independence Day itself that was on full display again last week, in all its red, white and blue glory.

“Menno is known for this,” said Schelske, who last Thursday was on the microphone working with his son, Teddy, announcing the 90 entries to a parade that spanned the better part of an hour and passed by more than 2,000 people packing the route. “It’s really a very emotional experience.”

For Schelske, part of that emotion is personal validation for his service in Vietnam — an unpopular war that had a negative impact on many of the soldiers who fought in it.

“My experience as a returning veteran was less than positive to say the least,” said Schelske, who was born in 1949, raised in Delmont and moved to Menno in 1980. “It was extremely negative because it was Vietman; the soldiers were actually blamed for what went wrong, and that wasn’t in our hands. It was years before I would even admit that I was in the service.”

Shelske said that began to change about 15 years after he returned home.

“Part of it was time,” he said, “but a big part of it was the community of Menno. As I lived here, I knew I could trust this community and there wouldn’t be that kind of negative reaction.”

Years later, he sees that same kind of commitment and support from and for the more recent members of the Armed Services.

“When we look at the youngest group of veterans now — Desert Storm and post-911 veterans — they stepped right up to the plate, as many American youth did. But Menno had 12 or 13 in the Parkston National Guard unit that were deployed, and they had losses.

“So that tradition continues.”

And looking out at the parade route and seeing the number of families and younger children makes Schelske’s heart swell.

“I would just encourage our young people to retain their faith in country and their hope in the future,” he says, “and when need is called upon, that they serve.”

Many who attended the 2024 Fourth of July parade in Menno, which Schelske believes has roots going back 60 years, said they had never seen so many people on the streets for the Rames-Bender Post 152 of the American Legion-sponsored event. Even on the side streets adjacent to the main route on Fifth Street, hundreds were stacked to watch.

“It was packed the whole length of the route,” said Menno Mayor Darrell Mehlhaf. “It was a great turnout.”

Part of it may have been due to the ideal weather — an unexpected surprise. While Menno’s parade goes on rain or shine, many wondered what they would wake to Thursday morning as the forecast the day before indicated a strong chance for rain and thunderstorms. In fact, the city of Sioux Falls on Wednesday canceled their plans for the July 4 celebration, prompting Mayor Paul TenHaken to make a public apology the following day.

Indeed, instead of rain there was nary a cloud, with sunshine and mild temperatures welcoming July 4 guests into Menno, and people seemed easy and carefree.

And Mehlhaf echoed Schelske’s summation about the spirit behind the affair.

“Patriotism is what that parade is about,” he said. “There are a lot of military tributes, a good number of military personnel in the community, and people show that by coming to the parade.”

And the turnout spilled into other areas as the day-long celebration continued.

Following the parade, hundreds packed the city-school auditorium for the Menno FFA feed that featured Arby’s roast beef with various sides prepared, served and overseen by more than two dozen students involved in the ag program at the school.

“I didn’t think it would be this positive,” said FFA advisor Brittany Haberman, who noted that this year’s barbecue diverged from the tradition of serving smoked pork loin that goes back to the 1980s, when the feed was held in the park. “It’s hard to find people to make pork loin and food is so expensive so we maybe don’t include everything on our menu … change is hard for people and I know that everybody loves pork loin, but we just thought the Arby’s roast beef would be a little easier.”

Based on the spirit in the room, the menu — which for the first year also included SDSU ice cream — was a hit. And the energy was palpable, a clear aftershock from the parade that preceded it.

“You’re not wrong (about Menno doing the Fourth of July as well as anybody),” said Haberman, a 2013 Menno High School graduate. “I grew up here, and especially if you’re from here, this is the best time to be in Menno, South Dakota. You get people from big cities who want to come here.”

As for the barbecue, Haberman said she and her mom, Jill, put in a lot of work to prepare for it, and there’s no small amount of nerves that go with that.

“How many do you prepare for?” she asks. “Are we going to have 400 people or are we going to have 600 people?” And especially this year, with rain in the forecast, she wondered what kind of impact that would have on the turnout, and also the FFA float that is part of the parade.

“We painted and made signs for our float, and you wonder, ‘Is it going to rain during the parade and is the paint going to run?’” Haberman says. “Are you going to be able to read our signs and is the paint going to get on my dad’s nice pickup and then I won’t even be alive for the barbecue.

“It does give me anxiety, but I have good officers and a lot of other help” she continues. “But it is stressful.”

And worth it.

“It is a fundraiser for us, but I also see it as a community service,” Haberman said. “I think people would miss it if we didn’t do it; it’s become such a tradition.”

That can be said of the entire to-do in Menno last Thursday, which also included afternoon activities for families and younger children at the Pioneer Acres site on the north edge of Menno, as well as afternoon and evening baseball — and fireworks — that thrilled fans.

All of it went as well as could be expected and there’s a high probability it will happen again next year, rain or shine.