With flags in hand and hands over hearts, students from Stanley County waited for the historic figure in South Dakota to pass by their school. Fifth-grader Riley Hannum was one of those watching.
"To honor and respect a great governor," Hannum said.
The procession made its way down Highway 83 and across the state on Interstate 90. During the Fort Pierre stretch, it had the attention of kids and adults alike.
"One thing I remember about Governor Janklow is when he had an idea he ran with it. And it took a lot of time and effort. But he did a lot for South Dakota schools," elementary Principal Brian Hartwig said.
Some of the students weren't even born when Governor Janklow was in office. But teachers made sure they understood their connection to the man whose body passed by their school. Teachers told students about Janklow’s project to wire schools for the internet.
"Sitting in the nice computer labs that we have today, we have to thank Governor Janklow for that," Hartwig said.
And those are all lessons kids had been learning, especially since Janklow's diagnosis with brain cancer and after his death.
"We study South Dakota history. And so for the kids to have the opportunity to witness this and be part of that history is definitely something they'll reflect back on in the years to come," Hartwig said.
Comments