Memorial Day activities have been scheduled Monday as follows:

The Bismarck veterans organizations will hold their annual Memorial Day observance at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the All Veterans Memorial at the Capitol. Master of ceremonies is Ron Burkhardsmeier, vice commander of VFW Post 1326. The speaker is Lt. Col. Robert O. Black, retired Army Reserve and Operation Desert Shield/Storm veteran.

Serving as chaplain will be the Rev. Dale Nabben, chaplain of VFW Post No. 1326 and VFW department chaplain.

In the event of bad weather, the observance will be held in the auditorium of the Heritage Center. The VFW Ladies Auxiliary will serve coffee and cookies at the Heritage Center before and after the ceremony.

Earlier on Memorial Day, observances will be held at these locations:

VFW Post No. 1326 Honor Guard

8 a.m., Sunset Memorial Garden

8:15 a.m., Fairview Cemetery

8:30 a.m., St. Mary's Cemetery below the hill

8:50 a.m., Menoken Cemetery

9:20 a.m., Glencoe Cemetery

10:30 a.m., All Veterans Memorial

Noon, State Veterans Cemetery

Disabled American Veterans Adam Klein Chapter No. 3 Honor Guard

8 a.m., Memorial Bridge

8:30 a.m., Sunset Memorial Garden at the Adam Klein gravesite

8:40 a.m., Sunset Memorial Garden at the Veterans Memorial

9:15 a.m., Fairview Cemetery

9:30 a.m., St. Mary's Cemetery

10:30 a.m., All Veterans Memorial

Noon, State Veterans Cemetery

AMVETS Post No. 9 Color Guard and Honor Guard

8 a.m., Memorial Bridge

8:45 a.m., Sunset Cemetery

9:30 a.m., Fairview Cemetery

10:30 a.m., All Veterans Memorial

Noon, State Veterans Cemetery

Combined Mandan American Legion Gilbert S. Furness Post No. 40 and Mandan VFW Post No. 707 Honor Guard

8 a.m., Memorial Bridge

8:30 a.m., Mandan Union Cemetery

9 a.m., Morton County Courthouse

10 a.m., St. John's Cemetery

10:30 a.m., St. Anthony Cemetery

Noon, State Veterans Cemetery

Memorial Day Ceremony at North Dakota Veterans Cemetery

The 2009 Memorial Day Ceremony will be held on Monday beginning at noon at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery south of Mandan on Highway 1806. This annual event honors all deceased American servicemen and women and is free and open to the public.

This year's ceremony will be led by non-commissioned officers in honor of "2009: The Year of the Noncommissioned Officer." The keynote speaker is Command Sgt. Maj. Francis S. Brager, command sergeant major for the Devils Lake-based Camp Grafton Training Center. Emceeing the ceremony is Chief Master Sgt. Paula K. Johnson, command chief for the North Dakota Air National Guard.

Welcoming remarks are planned by Gov. John Hoeven and Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, adjutant general for the North Dakota National Guard.

Other highlights include a flyover by North Dakota Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopters, the singing of the National Anthem by Melissa A. Mosbrucker, and playing of "Taps in Echo" by Century High School students Dillon Parker and Matthew Gerenz.

Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post No. 1326 and the North Dakota Army National Guard Ceremonial Platoon will fire salute volleys with rifles and cannon. Local veterans organizations, the U.S. Army Reserve color guard and the North Dakota Honor Platoon will post colors. Several hundred motorcycles will ride into the cemetery carrying patriotic colors. Among the organizations represented by the motorcyclists are The Vietnam Vets Motorcycle Club, Second Brigade Motorcycle Club, Freedom Riders and North Dakota Patriot Guard Riders. The Bismarck Mounted Police will carry colors and have a caparisoned "rider-less" horse with boots reversed in the stirrups symbolizing a fallen warrior who will no longer ride into battle.

To conclude the ceremony, Air Force Junior ROTC cadets from Grand Forks and Fargo will raise all 50 U.S. flags which line both sides of the cemetery.

Those planning to attend are encouraged to arrive early. The program will begin promptly at noon. Lawn chairs are encouraged due to limited seating.