Recovering Delmont Keeping New Year’s Eve Parade Tradition

DELMONT, S.D. (AP) — The community of Delmont is continuing a New Year's Eve tradition this year as it continues recovering from a spring tornado.

The small town began holding a New Year's Eve parade as a show of patriotism following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan reports it's believed to be the only daytime New Year's Eve parade in South Dakota.

A May tornado that ripped through Delmont wiped out four blocks, damaged or destroyed 84 structures in the area including the town's new fire hall and a century-old church, and injured nine people. About 75 of the town's 200 residents have since left.

Delmont Non-Profit Development Corp. President Darren Fechner says officials thought about doing away with the parade, but townspeople wanted to keep it.

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