MOUNTAIN, N.D. (AP) -- This Pembina County community of about 145 people is getting ready for a high-level meeting with two heads of state and an ambassador.
Iceland's prime minister, Geir Haarde, and the country's ambassador to the United States, Albert Jonsson, are scheduled to attend the Deuce of August celebration in Mountain, along with Gov. John Hoeven. The event is planned Aug. 3-5.
The celebration, held in many U.S. and Canadian cities, marks Iceland's independence from Denmark.
"It's a great honor, not only for our community, but our region and the entire state of North Dakota to have a foreign head of state visiting a small town in North Dakota and for the governor to be here to welcome him to North Dakota," said Curtis Olafson, a state senator who is organizing the celebration in Mountain. "It will be a great day for North Dakota and for the community of Mountain."
The Icelandic community has welcomed officials in past years to share in the August celebration.
