'Let It Shine' Tribute Friday To Honor Health Care & Front Line Workers

CITY TO HONOR FRONT LINE WORKERS

WITH 'LET IT SHINE' TRIBUTE FRIDAY

Organizations, residents to shine light to honor efforts

of COVID health, front line workers

RAPID CITY, SD--Rapid City will 'Let It Shine' Friday night, joining other South Dakota cities in honoring the state's health care and other workers on the front lines battling the COVID-19 pandemic.

            The public is invited to join a number of Rapid City businesses and organizations in a 'Let It Shine' tribute Friday from 8:30 to 9 p.m.  South Dakotans are expected to respond during the half-hour tribute - in small ways like shining flashlights, car headlights and porch lights, to larger expressions of support such as turning on stadium lights, Main Street business lights and illuminating iconic structures.

            "We are encouraging communities across the state to 'let it shine' for our health care workers and others who are on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic," said 'Let It Shine South Dakota' organizer Tony Erickson.  "Our message is one of hope. That we - as a state - will get through this together.  We are strong."

            Erickson said South Dakota residents are being asked to safely head outside from 8:30-9 p.m. MST Friday and shine a light in honor and tribute of health care and other front line workers - a firepit in the driveway, flashlights pointed at the sky, messages of hope written in Christmas lights in the back yard, creating a heart with headlights in a parking lot, turning on stadium and business lights.

            The 'Let It Shine South Dakota' organization is hosting the statewide event, which will include helicopters, airplanes and drones flying over the state's 12-largest cities to film aerial footage of the light displays and tributes.

            "Let It Shine is a simple way to share our support for health care and other front-line workers and responders," said Mayor Steve Allender.  "It's a simple gesture that can have a lot of meaning."

            For participating businesses and organizations, the event is a way for the community to come together and show appreciation.

            “Black Hills Energy is excited to participate in the Let It Shine event as we appreciate all of the essential workers, volunteers and non-profit agencies in helping those in need during this challenging time,” said Mutch Usera, Senior Program Manager, Community Relations for Black Hills Energy.

            In Rapid City, several businesses and organizations will be paying tribute to health care and front-line responders.  Among the tributes expected from 8:30-9 p.m. Friday night:

• •     South Dakota Mines -  O’Harra Stadium lights will be turned on along with scoreboard messaging, lights around campus, and lights on M-Hill
• •     Rapid City Police Department – Patrol vehicle lights
• •     Rapid City Fire Department – Stations to participate by pulling apparatus out on their station aprons and turning on their lights
• •     Black Hills Energy – Horizon Point Building lights will be on
• •     Visit Rapid City – Dinosaur Park illumination
• •     Rapid City Area Schools – School parking lot lights; Sioux Park Stadium lights will be illuminated
• •     Rushmore Plaza Civic Center – Parking lot lights illuminated
• •     Black Hills Rapids Soccer Club will turn on the lights at Dakota Fields Sports Complex
• •     Harney Little League, Canyon Lake Little League, Timberline Little League field lights will be illuminated           
• •     Post 22 will illuminate Floyd Fitzgerald Stadium
• •     Black Hills BMX Track will illuminate its track area
• •     Post 320 will illuminate Pete Lien Field
• •     St. Thomas More High School will be illuminated
• •     McKeague Field's lights will be illuminated

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