Darren Linde Laid to Rest | Video

Evan Kruegel | 12/12/2012

Flags were flown at half-staff today to honor one of the two North Dakota National Guard soldiers who were killed in Afghanistan on December 3. Today, hundreds paid their respects to Sergeant First Class Darren Linde. Friends and family gathered in Sidney for a touching tribute to Linde.

The service was filled with song, prayer and a 21 gun salute.

Senator-elect Heidi Heitkamp and Governor Dalrymple were there, along with Ian Placek, who was injured in the same attack that killed Linde and Tyler Orgaard of Bismarck. They joined more than 300 others at the Richland County Event Center, near the high school Linde graduated from in 1989. The service then moved to the Sidney cemetery, where Linde was laid to rest.

Linde was a recipient of numerous military medals, including the purple heart. He was remembered for being a loving father and husband, and also for being a proud servant to his country.

Linde and Orgaard are the 13th and 14th North Dakota National Guard soldiers to die in the War on Terror.

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