Buffalo Chip raises flags to military members

The 76th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is just over a month away, and one rally hotspot has started to prepare by hosting an event today dedicated to our military service members.

The Buffalo Chip conducted its annual flag raising, where 800 flags were placed in front of the iconic campground.

The owner started this tradition during the war in Iraq. At that time, a flag was placed for every fallen service member.

Each year the Buffalo Chip invites the public to help raise the flags, and one veteran and Buffalo Chip employee said the memorial is very significant to him.

Chris Cooper says, "It's really rewarding to see all the flags out here and all the hard work we've put towards it, and then we have a lot of veterans that come here and they see the flags and they take time to remember those that they have lost. And the fact that we can help them and give them the opportunity to remember the people - it just means a lot."

This year the owners added several additions to the memorial including a bronze battlefield memorial statue and bench area, as well as a wall dedicated to several specific veterans.