RAPID CITY, SD — In February, Rapid City uncovered a time capsule buried in 1976. The capsule was buried following the deadly flood which still stands as Rapid City’s darkest hours, and though ravaged by time the capsule and its contents reflected a city of the past seeking to recover, and seeking to be remembered by their descendants.
Today, in a continuation of the efforts of our forebears, Mayor Jason Salamun was joined by Pastor Herb Cleveland, Pastor Quincy Good Star, local historian and Rapid City PIO Darrel Shoemaker, and a crowd of onlookers to bury the city’s new time capsule in Founder’s Park.
The capsule, a thin, hermetically sealed metal cylinder, is filled with facts about Rapid City today, predictions for the future, as well as a litany of artifacts. These include native american art provided by Prairie’s Edge, a hockey puck provided by the Rapid City Rush, Challenge coins from the mayor and governor, a letter from the mayor written on archival-quality paper, artwork done by local student Umaiza Mayameen, a photo taken at a public event downtown last week, a current penny and 1925 wheat penny, and copies of both the Rapid City Journal and Rapid City Post.
Pastors Cleveland and Good Star led the attendees in prayer, reflecting the traditional practices of the old and new world alike in calling for blessings on this historical occasion.
Pastor Herb Cleveland (left) and Pastor Quincy Good Star (right) lead attendees in prayer (Via Fiona Ton)
Mayor Salamun, in a speech given before he entrusted the memory of our time to the care of the earth spoke on some of the sentiments expressed in his letter to the people of tomorrow, wondering if the people of tomorrow would be “Like the Jetsons or like the Flintstones,” and sharing a hope that people will come to understand the significance of their actions and of their community to not just their, but their descendants’ prosperity.
“What I hope is true 50 years from now is that people will lead on their faith; that they’ll recognize that the family is the building block of society, and that freedom doesn’t just happen – that it has to be preserved, it has to be fought for and can never be taken for granted.
These are important things. These are timeless values. The older I get – not only does my hair go away! But the older I get, I recognize it’s about the timeless things, not just the trendy things.
What outlasts everything? The love of a parent for a child outlasts everything. A new baby outlasts everything. The romance of a new love outlasts everything. Seeing a child born outlasts everything. Doing something good for your neighbors outlasts everything. Leaving things better than you found it outlasts everything.
So what really matters is not ‘How big we are?’, The technology that changes – all that will be true. What’s really going to matter in 50 years is what’s always mattered,“ said Salamun.
