Thanksgiving Deliveries

RAPID CITY, S.D. — The four Dahlmann sisters were excited to finished baking for first responders. On Thanksgiving Day, they delivered.

The family started the day at Ellsworth Air Force Base, delivering to the gate guards, and then made their way to Rapid City. Box Elder responders, and some of the volunteer fire departments, were not around for deliveries, but that did not stop them from making their way into town. The Rapid City Police Department and the Rapid City Fire Department Headquarters were both available and appreciative of the gesture.

“We’re here for 24 hours at a time, so we kind of treat the fire house like a normal house,” said firefighter/paramedic, Nick Knotek. “We eat like a family. Today we have all sorts of good stuff that we all brought in or cooked, and the pies are just an extra, of course. So they’ll get eaten, and we all appreciate it.”

Both departments acknowledged the difficult year many people have had, and were glad to be remembered this holiday.

“It’s been kind of a rough year for everybody, so thoughtful gestures like this, we truly appreciate it,” said Knotek. “We try to always have open doors even though there are a lot of restrictions right now, so we always like the public to come in and be able to pull a truck out and show the kids. So we appreciate it, and we like to return the favor as well.”

“It means a lot,” said patrol officer, Jamie Two Bulls. “I think with everything going on in the world today, it feels good to know that we’re still appreciated. And we do our best, and it’s just another day on the job…with pie to enjoy.”

The sisters received stickers from the police department and an up close look and photo with one of the fire trucks. They also said it was the best Thanksgiving they’d ever had.