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Sturgis Motorcycle Rally 2021 Celebrates Military Appreciation Day: Everything to Know

It might not be a huge surprise that a big part of the crowds at the 2021 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally consists of military veterans. Each year, the rally celebrates Military Appreciation Day, as it does today. Through special events, the rally and the City of Sturgis “honor and thank those and their families that have and who are currently serving to keep us safe and protect our freedoms.”

For the veterans attending the 2021 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, the celebration is especially important. What better way to celebrate someone than among friends and comrades that share the same passion? Amid the bikes and fellow brothers in arms, no doubt Military Appreciation Day is a unique and cherished experience. To make the celebration possible every year, the City of Sturgis works with the organization, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). The VFW is the nation’s oldest and largest major war veterans organization. Since its founding in 1899, it works with our nations’ heroes in a variety of capacities. One of them, is, of course, showing the country’s gratitude.

To remind bikers of Military Appreciation Day, the rally posted a photo with information about the day’s events. The picture featured a line of veteran riders, all with an American flag flying from the back of their bikes.

2021 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Gives Veteran Bikers an Aerial Salute

Before the 2021 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally began, the city has worked hard to provide thoughtful ways to honors veterans. While Military Appreciation Day held plenty of scheduled events, there was also one display that would last the entirety of the 10-day event. At Buffalo Chip, over 800 American flags stand tall to commemorate the sacrifice that servicemembers give.

While bikers and veterans gathered at the Rally Point Stage for the 2021 Military Appreciation Day, and the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and the VFW decided that a celebration on the streets wasn’t enough for the honored guests. After the group photo with all of the 2021 bikers, the rally took to the skies to show its gratitude. Along the streets, riders gathered with phones held high to capture a glimpse of the two B-1 lancers ripping across the clear blue sky.

Sure enough, the slate gray, supersonic bombers swept across Sturgis in a matter of seconds. Once the planes disappeared into the distance, the crowd roared almost as loud as the bombers.

In addition to the impressive aerial display downtown, the 2021 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally also showed its appreciation with a tribute to a local WWII veteran. Located west of the community center, the rally held a tent for the special guest so that others could stop by and offer their gratitude. Or, for other veterans passing through, they could swap battle stories and shake hands.