BISMARCK – Legislators in the North Dakota House and Senate today passed a joint resolution honoring North Dakota military personnel who have died in Iraq or Afghanistan since the last legislative session. Legislators also presented nearly $3,800 in personal donations to the North Dakota National Guard's Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). The program assists families who have lost soldiers in the North Dakota National Guard.
Those honored in Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 4036 are:
Spc. James Holmes, East Grand Forks; Spc. Dennis Ferderer, Jr., New Salem; Spc. Michael Hermanson, Fargo; Sgt. Travis Van Zoest, Bismarck; Cpl. Curtis Mehrer, Bismarck; Cpl. Jeremiah S. Santos, Devils Lake and Minot; Cpl. Paul A. Beyer, Jamestown; Cpl. Nathan J. Good Iron, Mandaree; Cpl. Christopher Kleinwachter, Wahpeton; and Maj. Alan R. Johnson, Montpelier.
Traditionally, members of legislative standing committees give gifts to each other at the end of the session. Many legislators bypassed that custom this year and made donations to TAPS instead.
Lt. Col. Dave Theile, judge advocate general for the North Dakota National Guard, said the TAPS program is part of a national effort to help military families work through the loss of their loved ones in combat. It includes a three-day program in which the families receive support and talk to others who have experienced the same thing.
“The TAPS program is invaluable,” Theile said. “It allows us to assist the grieving families by giving them tools to help them deal with their loss and grief. People who have participated in the program can't say enough good things about it.”
The donation from legislators will help the Guard pay for transportation and lodging costs to allow more North Dakota families to participate in the program.
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