Veterans will be honored at a special Mass in Mandan on Nov. 9, the Sunday preceding Veterans Day.

Court St. Cecelia of Mandan, Catholic Daughters of America, has organized a Veterans Recognition and Remembrance Mass at St. Joseph's Church in Mandan, for all living veterans and family members of deceased veterans.

This year marks the beginning of the Mandan Court's 90th anniversary year. Formed in 1919, the court is the oldest women's organization still active in Mandan, with 250 members.

The Mass will begin at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 9 at St. Joseph's, 108 Third St. N.E.

Participating in the celebration will be the Rev. Patrick Schumacher, pastor at St. Joseph, CDA Court Chaplain and former U.S. Navy chaplain, American Legion Commander Tony Engelhardt, VFW Commander Fred Smith, the Rev. Ben Dove, representing all living veterans, Rusty Kruger, whose father was killed at Normandy before he was born, representing family members of deceased veterans, Maryann (Engelter) Eckroth, Vice Regent of Court St. Cecelia, representing Catholic Daughters, and Andy Rohrich and Mathew Walstad of the North Dakota Military Honors group.

Schumacher said that as part of the Catholic Daughters' recent mission Mass, he spoke to them about developing their gifts for the church, but also for the whole community. This Veterans Mass is part of that contribution, both to Mandan and to the veterans' community, he said.

All veterans and families of living or deceased veterans are invited to attend. Coffee and doughnuts will be served at St. Joseph's School cafeteria immediately afterward.

In coordination with the event, the military display at the Mandan Heritage Plaza, in what is familiarly known as the Beanery building, in Dykshoorn Park on Main Street in Mandan will be open for visitors from 1 to 4 p.m. that day. The display also will be open from 1 to 3 p.m. Nov. 11, Veterans Day.

(Reach reporter Karen Herzog at 250-8267 or karen.herzog@bismarcktribune.com.)