MA Memorial March June 6 2009 Bismarck (UNCLASSIFIED)

MEDIA ADVISORY

For Immediate Release                                                                                        June 04, 2009

 

Contact:  Lt. Col. Rick Smith at 701-333-2007 (office)  701-426-0190 (Cell)

 

Memorial March to Honor Fallen ND Soldiers

 

BISMARCK, N.D. —Family members will host a 'Memorial March' on June 6 in remembrance of all North Dakota Service members killed in action in the Global War on Terrorism.  The march will begin at 9:38 a.m. in Bismarck.

 

Although the purpose of the event is to honor all fallen N.D. Servicemembers, the date and time is in memory of the exact time that two members of the 1-188^th Air Defense Artillery Security Forces (188^th ADA- SECFOR) were killed in action on June 6, 2006.  Sgt. Travis A. Van Zoest, 21 and Spc. Curtis R. Mehrer, 21, were riding in a vehicle that struck an improvised explosive device while on duty in Afghanistan.  Other Soldiers of the 188^th ADA – SECFOR killed in action were Cpl. Nathan J. Goodiron, 25, Mandaree, N.D., and Cpl. Christopher K. Kleinwachter, 29, Wahpeton, N.D.  The 188^th ADA – SECFOR was mobilized from Dec. 2005 until April 2007 and served a year in Afghanistan.

 

The public is invited to participate in honoring all North Dakota's fallen heroes by marching or walking or as spectators along the route.

 

The march will be a 9 mile route.  It will start from the Bank of North Dakota; there will be a stop at the Mandan McDonalds and finish at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.

 

For more information on the event contact Sheila Richter at 701-391-3205

  

WHAT: Family Memorial Road March

WHEN:  Saturday June 6, 2009 at 9:38 am.

WHERE: Bank of North Dakota 1200 Memorial Highway Bismarck ND, finishing at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery

——

Since the terrorist attacks on America, the North Dakota National Guard has mobilized more than 2,800 Soldiers and more than 1,600 Airmen in support of the Global War on Terrorism. In recent weeks, nearly 2,000 North Dakota National Guardsmen — with support of about 400 additional Soldiers and Airmen from six other states — have been mobilized for current flood fighting missions all across North Dakota. With a total force of about 4,400 Soldiers and Airmen, we continue to have sufficient forces available to provide emergency response and homeland defense.

 

-