The cool interior of Dickinson’s Queen of Peace Catholic Church was filled with flowers and photographs Thursday afternoon as the region, active military and veterans came together to say goodbye to Dickinson National Guard Spc. Jon Fettig.
Old women knelt to pray, while neighbors reminisced in hushed voices. The sanctuary was filled with family and friends, while members of the North Dakota National Guard filled a center section of the church.
Fettig, 30, was killed last week in a rocket grenade attack while serving in Iraq. He had volunteered to go overseas, as the Dickinson unit was not activated, and was serving with Bismarck’s 957th at the time of his death.
Fettig was remembered Thursday as a high-spirited soldier who loved serving in the military. Speaking at the services, North Dakota National Guard Maj. Gen. Michael Haugen said he actually met Fettig.
Haugen and Fettig met last summer when Fettig served as Haugen’s driver during training exercises. Riding across the dusty prairies of southern Canada, Fettig took the opportunity to teach the major general “what was really going on.”
“There was no more enthusiastic soldier, no one who loved what he was doing in the Army more than Jon,” Haugen said.
His voice breaking with emotion, Haugen described his search for a Bible verse to epitomize Fettig’s personality. He chose Isaiah 6:8
“Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.’”
Fettig answered that call, Haugen said, as Guard members have for 367 years.
Haugen then presented the Bronze Star and Purple Heart to Fettig’s widow, Cody, while his parents Larry and Shirley, stood by Cody’s side at the front of the church.
“Jon was the ultimate volunteer, always ready to help, always ready to go,” said North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven, who also spoke during Thursday’s services. “He was a man of great courage.”
Hoeven cited Fettig’s exceptionally meritorious conduct with the 957th Company of the North Dakota Army National Guard when presenting Cody Fettig with the Legion of Merit award on her young husband’s behalf.
“We can’t thank Jon Fettig enough and we will remember him,” Hoeven promised.
Although Fettig loved his country and volunteered to go to Iraq, he wanted to come home again, the Rev. Pat Higgins of St. John Lutheran Church in Dickinson said in her funeral message. Fettig had much to live for, Higgins said.
“Where was God?” she asked when Fettig was killed.
He was there with Fettig, Higgins said. God was beside Fettig when he volunteered, when he shipped out to Iraq, even during the ambush that took his life, she answered.
Higgins reassured the family that God will also be with them as they work to rebuild their lives with Jon.
The hot July sun was tempered by cool breezes at St. Joseph’s Cemetery south of Dickinson where mourners joined ranks around the graveside following the church service.
Singing birds were startled into silence by the echoing gunshots of the 21-gun salute. Quiet sobs rippled through the crowd during the rendition of “Taps,” as old and young soldiers stood together saluting the coffin until the last notes had faded into stillness.
The young widow cried silently when accepting from Haugen the flag that had draped her husband’s coffin. Even strong, young guardsmen wiped away soundless tears as the casket was lowered and sealed into the vault.
“It’s a sad, sad day,” said Dickinson Mayor Dennis Johnson after the service. “You can see from the service and all the flags flown at half mast this past week that the entire community feels for the Fettig family.”
∼Army SP/4. Fettig was 30 years old and from Dickinson, S.D; He was assigned to the 957th Engineer Company, Bismarck, ND; died when the heavy expanded-mobility Tactical Truck he was in was hit by a Rocket propelled grenade July 22 outside of Ramadi, Iraq.
Old women knelt to pray, while neighbors reminisced in hushed voices. The sanctuary was filled with family and friends, while members of the North Dakota National Guard filled a center section of the church.
Fettig, 30, was killed last week in a rocket grenade attack while serving in Iraq. He had volunteered to go overseas, as the Dickinson unit was not activated, and was serving with Bismarck’s 957th at the time of his death.
Fettig was remembered Thursday as a high-spirited soldier who loved serving in the military. Speaking at the services, North Dakota National Guard Maj. Gen. Michael Haugen said he actually met Fettig.
Haugen and Fettig met last summer when Fettig served as Haugen’s driver during training exercises. Riding across the dusty prairies of southern Canada, Fettig took the opportunity to teach the major general “what was really going on.”
“There was no more enthusiastic soldier, no one who loved what he was doing in the Army more than Jon,” Haugen said.
His voice breaking with emotion, Haugen described his search for a Bible verse to epitomize Fettig’s personality. He chose Isaiah 6:8
“Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.’”
Fettig answered that call, Haugen said, as Guard members have for 367 years.
Haugen then presented the Bronze Star and Purple Heart to Fettig’s widow, Cody, while his parents Larry and Shirley, stood by Cody’s side at the front of the church.
“Jon was the ultimate volunteer, always ready to help, always ready to go,” said North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven, who also spoke during Thursday’s services. “He was a man of great courage.”
Hoeven cited Fettig’s exceptionally meritorious conduct with the 957th Company of the North Dakota Army National Guard when presenting Cody Fettig with the Legion of Merit award on her young husband’s behalf.
“We can’t thank Jon Fettig enough and we will remember him,” Hoeven promised.
Although Fettig loved his country and volunteered to go to Iraq, he wanted to come home again, the Rev. Pat Higgins of St. John Lutheran Church in Dickinson said in her funeral message. Fettig had much to live for, Higgins said.
“Where was God?” she asked when Fettig was killed.
He was there with Fettig, Higgins said. God was beside Fettig when he volunteered, when he shipped out to Iraq, even during the ambush that took his life, she answered.
Higgins reassured the family that God will also be with them as they work to rebuild their lives with Jon.
The hot July sun was tempered by cool breezes at St. Joseph’s Cemetery south of Dickinson where mourners joined ranks around the graveside following the church service.
Singing birds were startled into silence by the echoing gunshots of the 21-gun salute. Quiet sobs rippled through the crowd during the rendition of “Taps,” as old and young soldiers stood together saluting the coffin until the last notes had faded into stillness.
The young widow cried silently when accepting from Haugen the flag that had draped her husband’s coffin. Even strong, young guardsmen wiped away soundless tears as the casket was lowered and sealed into the vault.
“It’s a sad, sad day,” said Dickinson Mayor Dennis Johnson after the service. “You can see from the service and all the flags flown at half mast this past week that the entire community feels for the Fettig family.”
∼Army SP/4. Fettig was 30 years old and from Dickinson, S.D; He was assigned to the 957th Engineer Company, Bismarck, ND; died when the heavy expanded-mobility Tactical Truck he was in was hit by a Rocket propelled grenade July 22 outside of Ramadi, Iraq.
The cool interior of Dickinson’s Queen of Peace Catholic Church was filled with flowers and photographs Thursday afternoon as the region, active military and veterans came together to say goodbye to Dickinson National Guard Spc. Jon Fettig.
Old women knelt to pray, while neighbors reminisced in hushed voices. The sanctuary was filled with family and friends, while members of the North Dakota National Guard filled a center section of the church.
Fettig, 30, was killed last week in a rocket grenade attack while serving in Iraq. He had volunteered to go overseas, as the Dickinson unit was not activated, and was serving with Bismarck’s 957th at the time of his death.
Fettig was remembered Thursday as a high-spirited soldier who loved serving in the military. Speaking at the services, North Dakota National Guard Maj. Gen. Michael Haugen said he actually met Fettig.
Haugen and Fettig met last summer when Fettig served as Haugen’s driver during training exercises. Riding across the dusty prairies of southern Canada, Fettig took the opportunity to teach the major general “what was really going on.”
“There was no more enthusiastic soldier, no one who loved what he was doing in the Army more than Jon,” Haugen said.
His voice breaking with emotion, Haugen described his search for a Bible verse to epitomize Fettig’s personality. He chose Isaiah 6:8
“Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.’”
Fettig answered that call, Haugen said, as Guard members have for 367 years.
Haugen then presented the Bronze Star and Purple Heart to Fettig’s widow, Cody, while his parents Larry and Shirley, stood by Cody’s side at the front of the church.
“Jon was the ultimate volunteer, always ready to help, always ready to go,” said North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven, who also spoke during Thursday’s services. “He was a man of great courage.”
Hoeven cited Fettig’s exceptionally meritorious conduct with the 957th Company of the North Dakota Army National Guard when presenting Cody Fettig with the Legion of Merit award on her young husband’s behalf.
“We can’t thank Jon Fettig enough and we will remember him,” Hoeven promised.
Although Fettig loved his country and volunteered to go to Iraq, he wanted to come home again, the Rev. Pat Higgins of St. John Lutheran Church in Dickinson said in her funeral message. Fettig had much to live for, Higgins said.
“Where was God?” she asked when Fettig was killed.
He was there with Fettig, Higgins said. God was beside Fettig when he volunteered, when he shipped out to Iraq, even during the ambush that took his life, she answered.
Higgins reassured the family that God will also be with them as they work to rebuild their lives with Jon.
The hot July sun was tempered by cool breezes at St. Joseph’s Cemetery south of Dickinson where mourners joined ranks around the graveside following the church service.
Singing birds were startled into silence by the echoing gunshots of the 21-gun salute. Quiet sobs rippled through the crowd during the rendition of “Taps,” as old and young soldiers stood together saluting the coffin until the last notes had faded into stillness.
The young widow cried silently when accepting from Haugen the flag that had draped her husband’s coffin. Even strong, young guardsmen wiped away soundless tears as the casket was lowered and sealed into the vault.
“It’s a sad, sad day,” said Dickinson Mayor Dennis Johnson after the service. “You can see from the service and all the flags flown at half mast this past week that the entire community feels for the Fettig family.”
∼Army SP/4. Fettig was 30 years old and from Dickinson, S.D; He was assigned to the 957th Engineer Company, Bismarck, ND; died when the heavy expanded-mobility Tactical Truck he was in was hit by a Rocket propelled grenade July 22 outside of Ramadi, Iraq.
Old women knelt to pray, while neighbors reminisced in hushed voices. The sanctuary was filled with family and friends, while members of the North Dakota National Guard filled a center section of the church.
Fettig, 30, was killed last week in a rocket grenade attack while serving in Iraq. He had volunteered to go overseas, as the Dickinson unit was not activated, and was serving with Bismarck’s 957th at the time of his death.
Fettig was remembered Thursday as a high-spirited soldier who loved serving in the military. Speaking at the services, North Dakota National Guard Maj. Gen. Michael Haugen said he actually met Fettig.
Haugen and Fettig met last summer when Fettig served as Haugen’s driver during training exercises. Riding across the dusty prairies of southern Canada, Fettig took the opportunity to teach the major general “what was really going on.”
“There was no more enthusiastic soldier, no one who loved what he was doing in the Army more than Jon,” Haugen said.
His voice breaking with emotion, Haugen described his search for a Bible verse to epitomize Fettig’s personality. He chose Isaiah 6:8
“Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.’”
Fettig answered that call, Haugen said, as Guard members have for 367 years.
Haugen then presented the Bronze Star and Purple Heart to Fettig’s widow, Cody, while his parents Larry and Shirley, stood by Cody’s side at the front of the church.
“Jon was the ultimate volunteer, always ready to help, always ready to go,” said North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven, who also spoke during Thursday’s services. “He was a man of great courage.”
Hoeven cited Fettig’s exceptionally meritorious conduct with the 957th Company of the North Dakota Army National Guard when presenting Cody Fettig with the Legion of Merit award on her young husband’s behalf.
“We can’t thank Jon Fettig enough and we will remember him,” Hoeven promised.
Although Fettig loved his country and volunteered to go to Iraq, he wanted to come home again, the Rev. Pat Higgins of St. John Lutheran Church in Dickinson said in her funeral message. Fettig had much to live for, Higgins said.
“Where was God?” she asked when Fettig was killed.
He was there with Fettig, Higgins said. God was beside Fettig when he volunteered, when he shipped out to Iraq, even during the ambush that took his life, she answered.
Higgins reassured the family that God will also be with them as they work to rebuild their lives with Jon.
The hot July sun was tempered by cool breezes at St. Joseph’s Cemetery south of Dickinson where mourners joined ranks around the graveside following the church service.
Singing birds were startled into silence by the echoing gunshots of the 21-gun salute. Quiet sobs rippled through the crowd during the rendition of “Taps,” as old and young soldiers stood together saluting the coffin until the last notes had faded into stillness.
The young widow cried silently when accepting from Haugen the flag that had draped her husband’s coffin. Even strong, young guardsmen wiped away soundless tears as the casket was lowered and sealed into the vault.
“It’s a sad, sad day,” said Dickinson Mayor Dennis Johnson after the service. “You can see from the service and all the flags flown at half mast this past week that the entire community feels for the Fettig family.”
∼Army SP/4. Fettig was 30 years old and from Dickinson, S.D; He was assigned to the 957th Engineer Company, Bismarck, ND; died when the heavy expanded-mobility Tactical Truck he was in was hit by a Rocket propelled grenade July 22 outside of Ramadi, Iraq.
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