A black granite wall listing Minnesota military members killed in Iraq and Afghanistan will be on display Sunday in Detroit Lakes, Minn.
An organization called Veteran's Lake Inc. is sponsoring the memorial, which will be dedicated Sept. 2 at Veteran's Lake in Ramsey, Minn.
The monument, the first of its kind in Minnesota, is temporarily installed on a flatbed truck so that it can be driven to the hometowns of friends and families of the 63 deceased military members.
It's scheduled to be in Detroit Lakes from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the city park.
Detroit Lakes area soldiers listed include Joshua Hanson of Dent, Greg Riewer of Frazee, Troy Linden of Detroit Lakes and Jason Schumann of Hawley.
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For more information go to www.veteranslake.com .
Grad at top of class
As North Dakota Air National Guard members train for new roles at the 119th Wing, a number have graduated at the top of their class, officials at the base said.
The most recent is First Lt. Christopher Domitrovich, who was named the distinguished graduate in the C-21 Pilot Initial Qualification Course. Each class has one distinguished graduate.
The course involves three weeks of training and academics in Dallas and three weeks of flight operations and academics at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Miss.
Guard policy waived
Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman says a federal 60-day "hands-off" policy has been waived for Minnesota National Guard soldiers returning from combat.
The policy prevents military officials from requiring National Guard troops to take part in mandatory activities within 60 days after they return from combat.
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Rescinding the policy will help Minnesota's Beyond the Yellow Ribbon reintegration program, the Republican senator says in a news release.
Coleman's release said the Department also decided to fund Minnesota's Beyond the Yellow Ribbon reintegration program at federal expense.
One part of the state's reintegration program requires that units gather for a day of training and seminars 30 days, 60 days and 90 days after their return.
More than 2,600 Minnesota National Guard soldiers returned this summer from Iraq after a 16-month deployment.
The Moorhead-based 2nd Combined Arms Battalion is scheduled to hold its first training day at the end of September.
Grant for combat
A Moorhead man received a $500 grant in honor of his service in Bosnia.
Lt. Col. Daniel F. Bohmer served from August 2003 to February 2004. He received $500 from the Minnesotans' Military Appreciation Fund for his service.
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The fund is a statewide fundraising initiative for Minnesota military members and their families. It provides cash grants to military personnel who served in combat since September 2001.
For more information go www.thankmntroops.org .
Readers can reach Forum reporter Andrea Domaskin at (701) 241-5556
