Veterans gathered in the North Dakota Heritage Center auditorium Tuesday to honor the service of Americans who served in the military.

World War II veteran William Reynolds had a single reason for giving pause Tuesday.

To remember "the fellas that didn't come back," he said.

Reynolds, 88, flew fighter planes as a Marine and wrote a book about his experience flying over the Pacific called, "Diary of a Lucky Leatherneck Throttle Jock."

His most vivid memory of flying during the war is watching the sun rise over Mount Fuji in Japan, he said.

Maj. Davina French of the North Dakota National Guard, who served in Desert Storm and the Iraq War, said she was honored to be in the presence of veterans from past wars.

"It's a time not only for me, but for the country to remember the fallen and the sacrifices that are being made today," French said.

Tony Klein, 86, said he was a farm boy who was drafted by the military during WWII and sent to the China coast to help ward off the Japanese.

"Glad to have been able to serve my country and to be alive today, still witnessing these beautiful ceremonies that represent it for us," Klein said.

Bill Gipp, 68, a Vietnam-era Army veteran, also was celebrating his birthday Tuesday.

"It means my birthday is easy to remember," Gipp said of Veterans Day. But it reminds him of much more.

"It's an extra reminder about what the veterans have done for our country," he said.

At the end of Tuesday's ceremony, Martin Bless, a 74-year-old Air Force veteran who served in Korea and Vietnam, rang a bell 11 times at 11 a.m. in honor of those who served their country.

"We can't forget our veterans and what they've done for our country," Bless said.

Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., and Gov. John Hoeven also attended the ceremony among other state officials.

(Reach reporter Brian Duggan at 223-8482 or brian.duggan@bismarcktribune.com.)