SPEARFISH, SD – On July 29, 2026, the South Dakota Hall of Fame (SDHoF) presented
Zayne, Zander, and Zaiden, and the Bartol Family with an Acts of Excellence Award in a
ceremony held in Spearfish with family and friends of the Bartols.
Zayne, Zander, and Zaiden, and the Bartol Family were named Acts of Excellence awardees
earlier this spring for their annual Memorial Day mission to place nearly 3,000 flowers on graves
at the Black Hills National Cemetery.
During the ceremony, SDHoF CEO Laurie Becvar spoke about why the Bartol Family was
selected for this year’s award. Becvar also announced that the SDHoF Visitor & Education
Center will feature a year-long exhibit celebrating the Memorial Day Mission.
The SDHoF’s Acts of Excellence Program, proudly sponsored by Sanford Health, is dedicated
to acknowledging these unsung heroes. Acts of Excellence awards honor the transformative
impact of individual and collective efforts that contribute to the betterment of our communities.
Inspired by a three-year-old’s compassion at Black Hills National Cemetery in 2011, the Bartol
family of Spearfish has spent 15 years placing flowers on veterans’ graves every Memorial Day.
What began with a handful of bouquets has grown into a community-supported nonprofit placing
up to 3,000 flowers annually, ensuring that no veteran is forgotten.