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Traveling ND Vietnam Memorial Wall opens at 4 Bears Casino & Lodge

Submitted Photo From the left, Melanie Johnson-Luger, holding her daughter Ellie Luger; Harriett Goodiron who lost her son in 2006 in Afghanistan; and Sharol K. Johnson, wife of Vietnam veteran Myron B. Johnson who died just before he was set to return home, are shown at the opening of the traveling North Dakota Vietnam Memorial Wall at the 4 Bears Casino & Lodge, shown in this photo by Tony Lone Fight. Johnson-Luger is Myron Johnson’s daughter. He is one of three Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Nation members listed on the traveling memorial wall.

NEW TOWN – Local veteran William “Musky” Hale Jr. brought the traveling North Dakota Vietnam Memorial Wall to the 4 Bears Casino & Lodge, figuratively and literally. He went to pick up the exhibit on Thursday.

On Friday, the memorial was opened with a ceremony that involved tribal honor and flag songs, dancing, gifts, solemn speeches and a few moments of humor.

The Vietnam Memorial Wall was created by the Fargo Air Museum and travels the region. It’s based on the national monument in Washington, D.C.

Republican Gov. Doug Burgum was coming to meet with the Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Nation’s leadership and the governor was looking for ways he could meet more people. The opening of the exhibition and the governor’s visit fit well together and MHA Chairman Mark N. Fox and Burgum were happy to add their voices welcoming the new exhibition to the Fort Berthold Reservation.

The exhibition is open to the public at the 4 Bears Casino & Lodge through Sunday, Aug. 13.

Submitted Photo From the left, Wasey Lamar, Tammy Hall Jennings, Bruce Freeman and Jimmy Johnson look at a story about Myron B. Johnson and medals, shown in this photo by Tony Lone Fight. Jimmy Johnson is Myron Johnson’s brother. Freeman is a former Marine. In the background is the traveling North Dakota Vietnam Memorial Wall.

After the exhibit opening, the meetings began. The meeting of the governor’s and MHA Nation’s staff is designed to find ways the state and the tribes can work together more effectively. A wide variety of subjects were talked about including taxation, water rights, addiction and energy concerns.

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