BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota News Cooperative) — The North Dakota Legislature is handling a number of bills to honor veterans this session, including seven to name roads and bridges after fallen North Dakota soldiers, and others that highlight current military members, prisoners of war, and service members who are missing in action.

The effort to rename North Dakota roads and bridges after fallen soldiers has “done a lot of healing and brought a spotlight to our vets here in North Dakota,” said Jim Nelson, the legislative director for the North Dakota Veterans Legislative Council.

House Bill 1228 would designate a portion of State Highway 5 and a bridge in Bottineau as the Lt. Cmdr. Carl J. Woods Vietnam bridge. Woods died on Sept. 28, 1965, near Qui Vinh, North Vietnam. After his helicopter was hit by antiaircraft fire, Woods flew the burning chopper 40 miles to the Gulf of Tonkin, where he bailed out before it crashed into the sea. Woods drowned before he could be rescued. A resident of Bottineau, Woods left behind his wife, son, and two daughters. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

House Bill 1212 would designate State Highway 18 from the intersection of State Highway 5 to the Canadian border as the Pfc. Henry Gurke Memorial Highway. Gurke was killed on Nov. 9, 1943, in Bougainville, Solomon Islands, when he smothered a grenade explosion with his body to protect nearby members of his unit from the blast. A native of Neche, Gurke is buried in the Union Cemetery there.

House Bill 1173 would designate the bridge on State Highway 31 north of New Salem as the Spc. Dennis “DJ” Ferderer Jr. Iraq Bridge. Ferderer was killed Nov. 2, 2005, in Duluiyah, Iraq. He enlisted in the Army after graduating from New Salem High School in 2003. His name is included on the Memorial to the Fallen in the Global War on Terrorism outside Fraine Barracks, which is the Bismarck headquarters of the North Dakota National Guard.

House Bill 1140 would designate the bridge on South State Avenue in Dickinson as the Spc. Jon P. Fettig Iraq Bridge. Fettig was killed in action outside Ar Ramadi, Iraq, on July 22, 2003. He was serving with the North Dakota Army National Guard’s 957th Engineer Company. He was the first North Dakota Army National Guard soldier killed in battle since the Korean War. Fettig’s name is included on the Memorial to the Fallen.

House Bill 1092 would designate the Carrington railroad overpass on U.S. Highway 52 as the Staff Sgt. Miles Shelley WWII Bridge. Shelley was killed April 1, 1944, in Bougainville, Solomon Islands, while serving with Company F, 164th Infantry Regiment. He received the Silver Star, Distinguished Service Cross, Bronze Star, and a Purple Heart for his service in the Pacific theater. In Bougainville, he was killed after he called in an artillery strike on his own position so that the rest of his patrol could withdraw unharmed. He is buried in the Carrington Cemetery.

House Bill 1091 would designate the bridge on U.S. Highway 81 in Grafton as the Spc. 4 David Latraille Vietnam Bridge. Latraille was killed by enemy small arms fire on March 6, 1968, in Thua Thien, South Vietnam. He is buried in St. John’s Cemetery in Grafton.

House Bill 1090 would designate the bridge on State Highway 18 as the Spc. 4 Richard W. Orsund Vietnam Bridge. Orsund died on March 27, 1968, in Binh Duong, South Vietnam, from a metal fragment wound. He is buried in South Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Grafton.

During the 2023 legislative session, five bridges were named to honor veterans. These names provide lasting recognition and appreciation for local heroes who have given their life in a time of war while keeping their memory alive, recognizing the family they left behind, and allowing for community involvement, supporters say.

The 2025 Legislature’s efforts to honor veterans have not been restricted to naming roads and bridges.

House Bill 1293 would create a Burial Medallion Program for veterans’ graves. The medallion would be a small marker attached to an existing headstone or grave marker to indicate a veteran’s status. The bill passed the House 92-0 on Jan. 27. The Senate Agriculture and Veterans Affairs Committee is reviewing the bill.

House Bill 1403 designated Prisoner of War and Missing in Action Day as a state holiday by proclamation of the governor. POW/MIA Recognition Day honors and remembers the sacrifices of prisoners of war and service members who went missing in action. POW/ MIA Recognition Day is the third Friday in September and has been observed since 1979.

Under House Bill 1148, the governor will issue a proclamation on May 1 for Military Appreciation Month in honor of the men and women of the U.S. armed forces who have served and are still serving. Military Appreciation Month is in May of each year.

All of the veteran memorial bills have been approved by the House and will be considered by Senate committees.

(Story written by Ann Estvold – North Dakota News Cooperative)