North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven signs a military funeral buffer zone bill at the Capitol in Bismarck, N.D., Thursday, Jan. 25, 2007. The new law says protesters have to stay at least 300 feet away from a funeral location and they can't demonstrate an hour before the funeral, or within an hour afterwards. Looking on during the signing are friends and family of some of North Dakota's soldiers who were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Standing next to Hoeven is Rep. Bette Grande, R-Fargo. Grande was the prime sponsor of the bill.

Sergeant Samuel Floberg, center, is congratulated by Adjutant General David Sprynczynatyk at an awards ceremony on Friday at the North Dakota National Guard's Bohn Armory in Bismarck.