Col. Christopher Ayres, who became commander of the 91st Space Wing at Minot Air Force Base May 13, will give the address at the Memorial Day program Monday at 10:30 a.m. at the Soldiers Plot in Rosehill Memorial Park in Minot.
Ayres leads more than 1,600 Air Force men and women of the 91st Space Wing in support of the nation’s land-based intercontinental ballistic missile force. The wing operates, maintains and keeps secure 150 Minuteman III ICBMs, 15 missile alert facilities and 150 remote launch facilities covering an 8,500-square-mile area in northwest and northcentral North Dakota. The wing also has eight UH-1N helicopters in support of missile field activities.
Ayres was commissioned through ROTC in 1985. He has held key leadership positions in Ground Launch Cruise Missile and Space, and ICBM squadrons, wings and theater headquarters staffs. He has had multiple assignments in joint operations while assigned to Headquarters, United States Space Command; Headquarters, United States European Command; and the Joint Staff. He is a command space and missile operator with more than 21 years of experience.
Before coming to Minot AFB, he was commander of the 460th Operations Group at Buckley AFB, Colo.
The Minot Memorial Day program is being done in cooperation with the veterans organizations, their auxiliaries, Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot AFB and the City of Minot.
Wayne Paulson, past national inspector general for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, will be master of ceremonies. Others participating in the program include Minot veterans organizations, auxiliaries and organizations, the Rev. Andy Perry of Trinity Evangelical Free Church and Kari Andersen. Peggy Headrick, president of the VFW Post 753 Ladies Auxiliary, will lay the wreath and Dorothy Pence will play taps.
Before the cemetery service, the traditional Strewing of the Flowers Ceremony will be held at 8 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Walkway in northwest Minot. The strewing of the flowers is done in remembrance of the soldiers and sailors lost at sea.
Arrangements for the Memorial Day events were provided by the VFW Post 753 commanded by Ric Montoya.
Programs in the area
Memorial Day programs are also planned in area communities. All services also are Monday unless otherwise indicated.
BOTTINEAU – A parade will begin at 10 a.m. The parade will go to N.D. Highway 5 and to the cemetery. A program will be held in Oak Creek Cemetery. In case of inclement weather, there will be no parade and the program will start at 10 a.m. in Holwell Auditorium at Bottineau High School. The activities are sponsored by the American Legion Post 42, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8688 and their auxiliaries.
BUTTE – The Lawrence E. Meidl American Legion Post 270 of Butte will hold cemetery ceremonies at Kongsberg, Ruso, Kief and Balfour at 8, 8:20, 9:30 and 10 a.m., respectively. A lakeside ceremony will be held at Strawberry Lake at 8:45 a.m. A program will begin at 11 a.m. in the Butte Legion Hall followed by a ceremony at the Butte cemetery. A noon potluck dinner with a freewill offering taken will be held in the Legion Hall.
DONNYBROOK – A program will be held in the Donnybrook Community Center at 11 a.m. After the program, dinner will be served by the American Legion Auxiliary.
DRAKE – The David D. Nehrenberg American Legion Post #32 will host a program at 10 a.m. in the Drake City Hall. There will be a speaker from Minot AFB. After the speech, the group will go to the Drake Cemtery to place a wreath at the Veterans Plot, followed by a rifle salute and the playing of taps. Lunch follows in the Legion Club rooms.
GRANVILLE – The Burchett, Beck, Barnett & Brown Legion Post #155 will hold a service at 11 a.m. in the TGU Granville School gymnasium. The guest speaker is Sheri Heine with a presentation on “America’s White Tablecloth” to remember military members who did not come home. A service will follow at the Granville Cemetery. The traditional chicken noodle dinner will be served at Hope Congregational Church beginning at 11:30 a.m.
HARVEY – A program will be held in the Harvey City Hall beginning with the community band at 10 a.m., followed by the program. Guest speaker is Lt. Col. Rose Deck of the Army National Guard. Others participating in the program include the Harvey Color Guard, American Legion and VFW auxiliaries, Harvey Boy Scouts, Harvey Community Band, emcee Pastor Fred Westerhold and the high school M’Ladies, After the program there will be a military honors ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park and laying of wreaths and dedication of the Military Statue, followed by ceremonies at Sunnyside and St. Cecilia cemeteries. Harvey High School FCCLA will serve noon lunch, with proceeds going to attending a national convention.
LANSFORD – A program will be held at 11 a.m. in the Community Auditorium, with a guest speaker. After the program there will be services at the cemetery. Lunch will follow at the Lansford Cafe.
MAKOTI – The William Hanson Post 230 of the American Legion will hold services in the Makoti Park at 9 a.m. The auxiliary will serve a ham breakfast in the hall immediately after the service.
NEWBURG – Services will be held at 10 a.m. in the Newburg Senior Citizens Center, with speaker Bob Hunskor. A potluck lunch will follow.
NEW ROCKFORD – The American Legion Post No. 30 will hold services at 10:30 a.m. at the Brown Memorial, with music and a guest speaker. After the flag raising at Centennial Park, there will be a short service at Riverside Park for veterans lost at sea, then proceeding to the cemetery for a short service at the Veterans Memorial there.
RYDER – The L.C. Jensen American Legion Post # 99 will hold the Memorial Day program beginning at 10:30 a.m. in the school gym, with guest speaker Senior Airman Daniel Anderson, then services at the cemetery. Following, there will be dinner at Curt’s Place. There will be kids’ games and races at the Ryder Park at noon.
SHERWOOD – The 71th annual International Memorial Day service will be held beginning at 10:15 a.m. with the exchanging of the colors and welcoming of Canadian comrades and friends at the international border 2 miles north of Sherwood.
“For 70 years we have held the same ‘flag-exchange ceremony’ on the border 2 miles north of Sherwood and this year will be the 71st,” said Orlin Hanson, adjutant for Sherwood American Legion Post 213. The group will start gathering at the border at 9:45 a.m., with the ceremonies there to follow.
After the border ceremony, the troops and crowd will go to the gym in Sherwood High School for the program at 11 a.m. Sen. Dave O’Connell, Lansford, will be the guest speaker.
After the program there will be a parade on Main Street, with a stop at the Sherwood Firemen’s Memorial to lay a wreath in memory of those who lost their lives in the oil fire in September 1991. Buses then will take the troops to the Sherwood Union Cemetery for a short program to decorate the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and saluting the dead.
“We will then adjourn to the Memorial Hall where refreshments will be served to the participants. Lunch will follow,” Hanson said.
Ewen Booth, the bag piper from Carnduff, Sask., will be piping the troops across the border, into the hall, down the street and into the cemetery.
STANLEY – Charles Hartman Legion Post 134 will sponsor a parade at 10 a.m. and a program to follow at 10:30 a.m. in the Stanley High School gymnasium, with Wyatt Goettle giving the address. Others taking part in the program include Gene Hanson, post commander, the Rev. Mike Millard, post chaplain, along with music and poetry presentations. Services follow at the cemetery. Afterward, there will be a potluck dinner in the high school cafeteria sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary.
TIOGA – American Legion Post #139 will hold services at 10:30 a.m. in Tioga High School. Korean War veterans will be honored. Sgt. Jeremy Schlake of Minot Air Force Base will be speaker. After the cemetery service, dinner will be served by the American Legion Auxiliary Post #139 in the high school.
UPHAM – The program will begin at 11 a.m. in the Upham Legion Hall, with speaker Staff Sgt. Johnny Raymond Garcia Jr., of Minot AFB. Military honors will be conducted at the Bloomfield Cemetery after the program. The auxiliary will serve dinner in the Legion Hall. There will be a freewill offering for the meal.
WILLOW CITY – The Willow City American Legion Post 112 of Willow City will hold a program at 10 a.m. in the Willow City Community Hall, with guest speaker Senior Airman Adam Raper of Minot AFB. Military services will be conducted at local cemeteries. A noon lunch in the hall will follow the program.
