Submitted Photo The Three Lyons Pub in Fargo has this digital Wall of Honor. The digital indoor billboards honor men and women who have served or are continuing to serve this country and their communities.

BISMARCK – The Wall of Honor salutes local heroes across the state of North Dakota by paying tribute to them on digital indoor billboards located in restaurants, veterans’ service and fraternal organizations, convenience stores, lobbies and taverns.

Heroes are prominently displayed in a digital format on a screen with a photo, name and career of service, both past and present.

Madison Wanner, marketing and communications specialist and honoree coordinator, said the Wall of Honor, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, began in July 2020 with its first location at the Amvets in Bismarck; however, it is a statewide organization.

“The goal is to grow to 300 locations in the next two years and then venture to other ‘military-rich’ states,” said Wanner.

Wanner said the organization started from a vision of its founder (who chooses to remain anonymous), who came back to the states from serving in Vietnam and, like many military members, received a not-so-warm welcome home.

“His vision has been to make sure this doesn’t happen to our local heroes again by creating a way to honor those who have served, our active military and first responders for their service to our country,” Wanner said.

The Wall of Honor does this by installing indoor digital billboards across the state in bars, taverns, waiting areas and other sites – anywhere with a lot of traffic, according to Wanner.

“These indoor digital billboards display those who have served, active military and first responders with their photo, branch of service, hometown, etc.,” Wanner said.

The cost of a digital billboard is roughly $1,500 (The TV and electronic box, and labor to install and create the playlists),” according to Wanner. The organization relies on businesses and other sponsors to finance the installations.

Currently, there are 27 locations with the digital billboards across North Dakota, and others are being installed.

“We even have other states approaching us who are interested in having The Wall of Honor in their state as well,” Wanner said.

Locations in the area with the indoor digital billboards include Captain’s Cabin in Washburn and American Legion #37 and J Dub’s, both in Williston. Other areas with the digital billboards include in Fargo, West Fargo, Medina, Wishek, Bismarck, Bowman, Dickinson, Hettinger, Linton, Mott, Wilton and Wing.

Locations currently being worked on include the Minot Moose, Totten Trail near Coleharbor, Rusty Nail in Underwood, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars, Spirit Lake Casino at St. Michael, south of Devils Lake, and other locations in Fargo, Bismarck and Horace.

Wanner said anyone can go to The Wall of Honor website at www.thewallofhonor.org and submit themselves or a loved one at no cost to them for The Wall of Honor.

For more information contact Dennis Beck, veteran liaison officer, at Dennis@thewallofhonor.org or 989-0915, or Dave Weiler, representative, at Dave@thewallofhonor.org or 226-6322.