John Jacobsen

MEDORA – The Veterans Day in Medora Endowment Program was created to provide more free offerings for U.S. military personnel and to celebrate the patriotic heritage of the Medora Musical.

“The Medora Musical’s Veterans Day in Medora program has continued to grow in impact over the last couple of years,” said Marketing and Communications Director Kaelee Wallace. “In 2023, a total of 2,929 guests attended the 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. shows, with 518 of those being military members.”

The program allows for veterans, reservists and active-duty military members to attend the Medora Musical for free.

“This program has grown to include a military panel during the day in downtown Medora, social at the Tjaden Terrace, where the pitchfork steak fondue is served, and a pre-show appreciation presentation, including the color guard, a keynote speaker and the fan-favorite amphitheater flyover,” Wallace said. “The endowment allows us to create more free offerings to military personnel and celebrate the patriotic heritage of the Medora Musical with the heroes that so bravely (give) of themselves to the United States military.”

One veteran said the Medora Musical and the Veterans in Medora Endowment is something he fully supports and is deeply thankful for.

“Of all the endowment plans that the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation offers, this is one that I wholeheartedly support, “ said John Jacobsen of Bismark.

Each year he attends, Jacobsen said, he feels the support of the community and the pride of being a veteran.

“To be in attendance for the special introduction at the start of the Veterans Day Salute gives me and all of the over 300 veterans present as a guest to the Medora Musical a feeling that makes the chest swell a little and puts a bigger smile on my face to be a veteran,” he said.

The 2024 Veterans and Military Appreciation Day at the Medora Musical is scheduled for Sunday, July 14.