Chaplain promoted to colonel in North Dakota Guard

Photo By David Lipp | Col. John Flowers gets the new promotion rank of colonel pinned onto his uniform by his wife, Debbie, left, and his daughter, Sara, Jan. 17, at the North Dakota Air National Guard, Fargo, N.D. Flowers is the North Dakota National Guard Joint Force Headquarters chaplain. (DoD photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp)  

FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA, UNITED STATES

01.17.2013

Courtesy Story

North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs

FARGO, N.D. - John Flowers, of West Fargo, N.D., chaplain, has been promoted to the rank of colonel in the North Dakota Air National Guard.

Flowers serves as the North Dakota National Guard Joint Force Headquarters chaplain and is the senior chaplain for the 119th Wing in Fargo.

"Through service in both the Army and Air National Guard, chaplain Flowers has brought comfort, support, spiritual guidance and great insight to our soldiers and airmen," said Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota adjutant general, who spoke at today's ceremony on the Fargo base. "It's an honor to be here today to promote him to colonel."

Flowers joined the North Dakota Army National Guard in 1991 and served as the battalion chaplain for the Fargo-based 142nd Engineer Combat Battalion and Valley City-based 141st Engineer Combat Battalion before transferring to the North Dakota Air National Guard in 2002.

He is the founding pastor of West Fargo's Living Hope Baptist Church and serves as chairman of the Dakota Baptist Convention's executive board.

Since the 2001 terrorist attacks on America, the North Dakota National Guard has mobilized more than 3,900 soldiers and about 2,400 airmen in support of the global war on terrorism. About 70 percent of all members serving today have joined since that time. Currently, more than 100 North Dakota Guardsmen are serving overseas while more than 4,000 remain in the state for emergency response and national defense. For every 10,000 citizens in North Dakota, 65 serve in the North Dakota National Guard, a rate that's more than four times the national average.

• Date Taken: 01.17.2013
• Date Posted: 01.17.2013 19:45
• Story ID: 100689
• Location: FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA, US