Eloise Ogden/MDN The original Veterans Section will be the site of Minot’s Memorial Day program on Monday at 10:30 a.m. A number of decorations were already in place at markers when this photo was taken on Thursday.

Memorial Day programs will be held in Minot and area communities on Monday.

1st Lt. Christopher Spangler, battalion logistics officer for the North Dakota Army National Guard’s 164th Engineer Battalion in Minot, will give the address at Minot’s Memorial Day program on Monday in Rosehill Memorial Park. The program begins at 10:30 a.m. at the original Veterans Section.

Chaplain (Maj.) Timothy Stout, battalion chaplain for the 131st Military Police Battalion in Bismarck who also serves St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Sawyer, will provide the opening and closing prayers.

Paul Stroklund, retired N.D. Army National Guard, will serve as master of ceremony.

Others participating in the program include veterans organizations and auxiliaries, Motorcycles of Veterans and Supporters, Steve Veikley of Minot and Samantha and Olivia Redding of Burlington.

Last year’s Minot Memorial Day program was canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic concerns.

Both Spangler and Stout have served both peace and wartime missions.

Born and raised in Bismarck, Spangler originally enlisted in the N.D. National Guard in 1995. He spent six years as a mechanic with the 3662nd Maintenance Company in Bismarck. After a break in service, he rejoined the 188th Air Defense Artillery as a mechanic in 2008. In 2011, he became a radar operator and was promoted to sergeant. He accepted his commission in 2016.

He participated in a Joint Force Humanitarian mission to Venezuela in 2000, supported the North Dakota flood fights in 2009 and 2011 and deployed to Afghanistan from 2009-2010.

Stout, originally from Waynetown, Ind., enlisted in the Army in 1988 and served until 1992, including through the Gulf War. He re-enlisted in the Indiana National Guard, with service including in Iraq. He then transferred to the N.D. National Guard and later was commissioned chaplain and served as battalion chaplain for the 1-188th Air Defense Artillery Battalion in Grand Forks. After graduating from Chaplain Basic Officer Leadership Course, he moved to the 68th Troop Command in Bismarck and was promoted to the rank of major in 2018.

At 8 a.m. on Monday, the Strewing of the Flowers ceremony will be held at the Veterans Memorial Walkway (Eighth Street NW Bridge) in Minot. The ceremony is symbolic and in remembrance of the soldiers and sailors lost at sea. Tech. Sgt. William Smith of Minot Air Force Base will serve as master of ceremony.

The Minot American Legion Post 26 and Unit 26 Auxiliary are in charge of this year’s Memorial Day program at Rosehill Memorial Park and ceremony at the northwest Minot bridge.

Area programs planned for Memorial Day include:

LANSFORD

The Lansford American Legion Kenneth L. Renz Post 279 will conduct the annual Memorial Day services at 11 a.m. in the Lansford Community Center.

Lt. Col. David Dammeier, commander of the 5th Civil Engineer Squadron at Minot Air Force Base, will be the guest speaker.

Cemetery services will follow, weather permitting, and the Lansford Cafe will be open.

RUGBY

Rugby Clarence Larson American Legion Post 23 will present a program at 10:30 a.m. in Memorial Hall. Lunch will follow.

People will be able to social distance and precautions will be taken to safeguard those attending.

WILLISTON

Williston American Legion Post 37 will present a program at 10:50 a.m.at Veterans Plaza in Riverview Cemetery.

A rededication of a new Monument to the Unknown will be held during the program. Cpl. Troy Leister, a Sentinel with the 4th Battalion, 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) at Fort Myer, Va., will take part in the ceremony. Sen. Kevin Cramer will deliver the rededication address.