BISMARCK, N.D. - North Dakota National Guard family members will host a "Memorial Road March" Sunday, June 10, in remembrance of all North Dakota National Guard service members killed in action in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). The march also honors all of the military members currently serving and veterans. The nine-mile march begins at the Memorial to the Fallen in the Global War on Terrorism and ends at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery. Marchers will begin assembling at the Bank of North Dakota parking lot 8:30.

The public is invited to march to show their support for our military.

Participants can park their vehicles and register for the march at the Bank of North Dakota. Transportation from the cemetery will return participants to their vehicles at the conclusion of the march. Vans will follow the marchers in the event marchers do not wish to walk the entire distance.

The march will begin with a short remembrance ceremony at 9:38 a.m. at the GWOT Memorial on the south side of the North Dakota National Guard headquarters at Fraine Barracks. The time of the ceremony coincides with the exact time that two members of the 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment (1-188th ADA) were killed in action 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 1-188th ADA killed in action in Afghanistan were Cpl.
Nathan J. Goodiron, 25, Mandaree, N.D., and Cpl. Christopher K. Kleinwachter, 29, Wahpeton, N.D. The 188th ADA - SECFOR was mobilized from Dec. 2005 until April 2007 and served a year in Afghanistan.

Marchers will rest at the McDonalds in Mandan and "The Post" south of Mandan, before heading south on North Dakota highway 1806 en route to the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.

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

WHO: Family members, community and NDNG
WHAT: Memorial Road March
WHEN: Sunday, June 12, 2011 at 9:38 a.m.
WHERE: Participants will stage at Bank of North Dakota (1200 Memorial Highway); the marchers will pause for a short remembrance ceremony at the GWOT Memorial on the south side of Fraine Barracks, directly outside the front gate, Bismarck, ND.