Veterans groups and the public in Bismarck and Mandan will observe Veterans Day Tuesday beginning with a traditional ceremony at the Russell Reid Auditorium at the State Historical Society at 10 a.m.

Lyle Schuchard, past AMVETS department commander and present commander of Bismarck AMVETS Post 9, will lead the observance.

The keynote speaker will be Command Sgt. Major Francis S. Brager of North Dakota Army National Guard Camp Grafton Training Center.

The invocation and benediction will be given by Bismarck AMVETS Post 9 chaplain Fay Brown. Brown has served as chaplain for the AMVETS Department of North Dakota for six years and 11 years as AMVETS Post 9 chaplain.

Gilbert N. Nelson Post 1326 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and AMVETS Post 9 honor guards will present honors with a rifle salute and the playing of Taps.

They will be joined by honor guards from Disabled American Veterans Chapter No. 3, American Legion Lloyd Spetz Post 1, AMVETS Post 9 Auxiliary Honor Guard, Mandan American Legion Post 40 and VFW Post 707 combined Honor Guard, and the North Dakota National Guard Honor Guard.

The ceremony concludes in time for people to see the sun shine through the opening in the All Veterans Memorial to illuminate the state of North Dakota on the globe in the center of the memorial at 11a.m.

The AMVETS Auxiliary will serve coffee and cookies before the ceremony.

Veterans Day also will mark the dedication on the new Liberty Memorial Bridge. The old bridge, opened in 1922, was originally dedicated to World War I veterans.

Peggy Anderson, communications director for the North Dakota Department of Transportation, said the new bridge is dedicated to all veterans of North Dakota from all branches of services.

The dedication and ribbon-cutting will get under way at 2 p.m. at the west plaza on the Mandan side of the bridge.

It will begin with the presentation of the colors, followed by a fly-over of Blackhawk helicopters with the North Dakota National Guard.

A number of dignitaries will be on hand for the ribbon-cutting including Gov. John Hoeven, Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., N.D. National Guard Adj. Gen. Dave Spryncaynatyk and Wendell Meyers of the Federal Highway Administration.

Following the ribbon-cutting there will be military parade across the bridge to the east, that will be lead by honor guards and followed by a number of vehicles representing different eras of military history.

Anderson said those wishing to attend are asked to park in lot at the Bank of North Dakota, where buses will be available to transport people to and from the ribbon-cutting and dedication.

The bridge will be closed to traffic during the dedication. Mike Kopp of DOT said the bridge itself will be closed from 1:30 to 3 p.m. In addition, he said the on-ramp to the bridge on the Mandan side of bridge leading to Bismarck will be closed at noon to allow staging for the parade which he expects to last 20 to 30 minutes.

Kopp said the Patriot Guard Riders will bring up the rear of the parade carrying a large American flag and also will have a flag line.

Anderson said people are then invited to attend an indoor ceremony at Bismarck State College starting at about 3 p.m. at the new Energy Center of Excellence, located at 1200 Schafer St.

Anderson said refreshments will be served at the event which will include, speakers, a presentation on the bridge and a video on North Dakota's veterans.