Larry Pressler: “an exciting event recently took place in the southern Black Hills of South Dakota. The Freedom Shrine, a collection of…”

“an exciting event recently took place in the southern Black Hills of South Dakota. The Freedom Shrine, a collection of documents from U.S. history, was dedicated at the Hot Springs VA Medical Center in Hot Springs, SD. I commend Maurice Wintersteen, the Exchange Club of Rapid City, and Hot Springs VA Director Dan Marsh, for their efforts to bring the Freedom Shrine to Hot Springs. Late last year, Maurice Wintersteen approached the Exchange Club of Rapid City about sponsoring a freedom shrine in the local VA Hospital. The Exchange Club of Rapid City agreed to his request, and Director Marsh threw his full support behind the project. As a result of their dedicated efforts, the Freedom Shrine became a reality and was placed in the rotunda of the VA Domiciliary Building. The Freedom Shrine displays reproductions of 28 historic American documents, including the U.S. Constitution, President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, and President Kennedy's Inaugural Address. It is my understanding the Hot Springs VA Hospital is the only VA facility in the Nation to have such a freedom shrine. It is very fitting that the Freedom Shrine was dedicated on the 50th anniversary of the death of President Franklin Roosevelt--the man who led a worldwide alliance against a tyranny that threatened freedom- living people throughout the world.…”