(KNSI) – A Minnesota Army National Guard Fallen Soldiers Memorial will be dedicated this weekend to three soldiers from a St. Cloud unit killed in a helicopter crash.
The dedication ceremony in honor of James Rogers, Charles Nord, and Kort Plantenberg is Sunday, at 1:00 p.m. at 18565 County Road 48, Kimball, MN 55353.
On December 5, 2019, a routine maintenance test flight ended in a Black Hawk crash killing all three members on board. The Soldiers were members of Charlie Company, 2-211th General Support Aviation Brigade, an air ambulance company headquartered in St. Cloud.
The helicopter crashed in a field owned by Helen and Larry Krippner.
Shortly after the crash, the Krippner family made plans to turn the site into a memorial that’s open to the public.
At Sunday’s ceremony, Maj. Gen. Shawn Manke, Minnesota National Guard Adjutant General, will be presenting the Krippners with a Public Service Commendation Medal for the generosity of their time and space to make a memorial possible.
The community is invited to attend the ceremony.