Community members gathered Monday morning at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Sioux Center for the community’s annual Memorial Day service, where Iowa National Guard Captain and Sioux Center Police Officer Tyler Kanaly delivered this year’s keynote address.
Kanaly, who returned earlier this year from a deployment to Iraq with the Iowa National Guard, reflected on the meaning of Memorial Day, the sacrifices made by service members and military families, and the realities of serving overseas.
Speaking to veterans, Gold Star families, civic leaders, and residents gathered for the ceremony, Kanaly emphasized that Memorial Day is ultimately about remembrance.
Kanaly currently serves as commander of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 194th Field Artillery in Estherville and has served in the Iowa National Guard since 2017. In addition to his military service, he also serves with the Sioux Center Police Department.
During his speech, Kanaly reflected on both of his deployments to the Middle East, including his earlier deployment to Baghdad, where he served during a major rocket attack targeting the U.S. Embassy.
Kanaly also spoke about the emotional impact of the December 2025 attack in Syria that killed two Iowa National Guard soldiers — Staff Sgt. William Nathaniel “Nate” Howard of Marshalltown and Staff Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar of Des Moines.
While Kanaly’s unit was stationed in Iraq at the time, he told attendees the loss became deeply personal because one of the soldiers serving under him at Al-Asad Air Base was Howard’s brother.
Throughout the speech, Kanaly repeatedly returned to the importance of remembering not only the fallen service members themselves, but also the families who continue carrying that loss long after the conflict ends.
He closed his remarks by encouraging attendees to live with gratitude and to remember the freedoms that military service members fought to protect.
Monday’s ceremony at Memory Gardens included recognition of veterans and Gold Star families, along with patriotic music and memorial tributes honoring local service men and women who died while serving in the United States military.
Listen to the entire Memorial Day service, featuring Captain Kanaly, here…
