Veterans Day events scheduled throughout the region

Veterans groups throughout the Hi-Line will hold ceremonies this week to honor war veterans.

Tuesday is Veterans Day, and a ceremony in downtown Havre will be held at 10:30 a.m.

William Bilger, the commander of the Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) organization in Havre, said that his group will be holding a two-part celebration on Veterans Day.

This will begin Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at the 1st street memorial wall. There will also be a rifle demonstration done by the VFW color guard at around 11 a.m.

Afterward, a chili feed will take place at the Elks Lodge.

"Just about everybody that is in this town has been a veteran - most of them. (This day) is to honor our veterans," Bilger said.

Jed Damson, post adjutant of the American Legion said that his organization will be joining forces with the VFW to commemorate veterans.

"Some have sacrificed maybe a little more, like missing limbs and that type of thing," Damson said. "If they had not gone and done their service, we wouldn't have the freedom that we have now."

John Gardipee, the veterans director at the Rocky Boy Veterans Center said that his organization has planned a banquet to honor veterans. This will be held Tuesday at the Rocky Boy Senior Center at 6 p.m.

"We are honoring two of our veterans. One of them is a Korean veteran and one is a Vietnam veteran," Gardipee said.

Gardipee said all are welcome to attend and that this event is free for veterans. He added that it costs $5 to get in if one is not a veteran.

Gardipee also said that there will be various guest speakers, including post commander, Jon Monteaux and vice commander, Chauncey Parker.

Denise Rugg, the veteran success coordinator at Montana State University-Northern, said that a ceremony will be held Wednesday at noon to honor war veterans. This will be a two-part event.

Rugg said the first part will be held on the second floor of Cowan Hall.

"We are going to have Rocky Boy and Fort Belknap color guard there," she said.

Rugg also said that Dr. William Rugg, Northern's provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, will give a short speech. A moment of silence for veterans who have passed away will follow.

The second part of this celebration will be held at Hagener Science Center room 115. A lounge area will be set up and refreshments will be available.

"Veterans on campus and off campus, can get together and meet each other," Rugg said. "We are going to have flags along the sidewalks from Cowan Hall to Hagener, so (people) know where to go."

Rugg added that this event is generally geared toward veterans, however all are welcome to attend.

"We need to let people know that veterans are important - they fought for our country, served for our country," she said. "We still have plenty of active people overseas, in the Middle East and elsewhere - they are not to be forgotten."

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