VALLEY CITY - On Sept. 1 the 141st Engineer Combat Battalion will deactivate after more than 53 years of service.

The North Dakota Army National Guard will commemorate the occasion with events this fall, including a Casing of the Colors ceremony, at which time the unit's color will be retired.

In preparation for the events, the North Dakota National Guard is seeking names and contact information for former members of the unit. The names will be compiled on a mailing list for updates, information and an invitation to a members-only event.

Anyone who served with the 141st Engineers in any capacity for any amount of time should contact Spc. Kary Fountain at kary.fountain@;us.army.mil or 701-845-6755. Be prepared to provide name, current/retired rank, address, phone number and e-mail address.

The 141st Engineer Combat Battalion was headquartered in Valley City with units in Edgeley, Jamestown, Oakes, Carrington, Lisbon, Wishek, Bismarck, Mott, Hettinger, Mayville, Hillsboro, Linton, Hazen, Rugby, Harvey and Bottineau.

The unit's lineage will transfer to the new 231st Brigade Support Battalion, which is in Valley City. The lineage dates to March 3, 1884, when the Valley City unit began as Company G, Dakota Militia at Valley City, Dakota Territory. It was redesignated as the 141st on April 15, 1955.