Fallen soldier’s wife to be guest: Heitkamp says Adrienne Linde will attend State of Union address

WASHINGTON — Adrienne Linde, wife of a North Dakota National Guard soldier from Devils Lake who was killed in action in Afghanistan late last year, will be the guest of Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, R-N.D., at Tuesday’s State of the Union speech by President Barack Obama.

Sgt. 1st Class Darren Linde, 41, and Spc. Tyler Orgaard, 20, Bismarck, were killed Dec. 3 by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan as they cleared explosives from a road. A third soldier was wounded.

Adrienne Linde will be seated in the House gallery for the address.

“Adrienne is someone whose service to our country as a military spouse didn’t earn her any medals or awards,” Heitkamp said in a statement issued by her office Monday.

“When her husband was killed in Afghanistan, she didn’t ask for anything. She simply said, ‘The love of my life tragically passed away. I am enormously proud of him for his sacrifice and service to our nation. Darren gave his life so that others could pass through safely.’ “

In her statement, Heitkamp said families of the deployed are often “the forgotten or unspoken heroes” who assume home front responsibilities during a deployment and bear the greatest grief when a soldier doesn’t come home.

“I’ve had the privilege to get to know the Linde family,” Heitkamp said. “They are truly everything that this country should be proud of, and I can think of no better representation to have with me to hear the President speak to the state of our Union.”

Gov. Jack Dalrymple and Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, adjutant general of the North Dakota National Guard, attended Linde’s funeral service in Sidney, Mont., his hometown.

Sprynczynatyk said Linde’s fellow soldiers — who continued to serve in Afghanistan — regarded Linde as a seasoned veteran who set high standards for himself and others.

In addition to his wife, Linde is survived by daughters Celina Linde of Devils Lake, Kayla Propp of Fairview, Mont., and Alexis Fleener of Devils Lake; son Eric Paul Linde of Devils Lake; father Dwight Linde of Williston and mother Debbie Buxbaum of Sidney.

Heitkamp also attended the service in Sidney.

“Darren is the reason we are free,” she said then. “Darren is the reason we are safe. And Darren is the reason why I’m proud to call this country and North Dakota my home.”

Tags: news, senate, military