LINN  — U.S. Army Mobilization & Readiness Officer Lt. Col. Justin H. Bowden will be the featured speaker at Saturday’s Wreaths for Heroes program at St. George Church at 11 a.m.

Lt. Col. Justin Bowden was born in Hennessey, Okla., and graduated in 1994 from Hennessey High School.

He enlisted into the Army Reserves on Dec. 18, 1992. He attended Basic Combat Training at Fort Leonard Wood and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind. In August 1994, he enrolled in college in Lexington after earning a Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship. Upon accepting his commission as an officer in May of 1996, Lt. Col. Bowden entered the Inactive Ready Reserve while continuing college and entered the Missouri Army National Guard in March of 1998.

He earned his Associate’s Degree in 1996 and his Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management & Leadership in 1999. In 2014, he earned his Master’s Degree in Education from Park University in Parkville. Lt. Col. Bowden’s military education includes the Force Management Course, Organizational Group Facilitation Course, Strategic Planning and Management Course, Organizational Process Improvement Course, Command and General Staff Officer’s Course, Defense Support to Civil Authorities Level II, Human Resources Management Qualification Course, Signal Officer Advanced Course, Signal Officer Basic Course, and the Personnel Management Specialist Course.

Lt. Col. Bowden has served in several assignments and duty positions, including Personnel Management Specialist, 381st Replacement Battalion, Ponca City, OK; Maintenance Supervisor, 917th Corp Support Group, in Richards Gebaur; Systems Integration Officer, Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, 135th Signal Battalion, St. Joseph; Operations Officer, Operation Enduring Freedom, Centertown; Communications Officer, 175th Military Police Battalion, Fulton; Commander, Charlie Company, 135th Signal Battalion, Carrollton; Battle Captain and Personnel Officer, 250th Signal Battalion, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Tikrit, Iraq; Commander, 1st Detachment, 35th Special Troops Battalion, Kansas City; Recruiting Operations Officer, Military Science Instructor, Executive Officer, Red Dragon ROTC Battalion, Lexington; Personnel Mobilization Officer, Joint Force Headquarters, Jefferson City; Administrative Officer, Headquarters Battalion, 35th Infantry Division, Lexington; Commander, Charlie Company, 35th Infantry Division, St. Joseph; Signal Plans Officer, 35th Infantry Division, St. Joseph; Assistant Chief of Staff – Signal, 35th Infantry Division, Fort Leavenworth, KS; Strategic Plans Officer, Joint Force Headquarters, Jefferson City,; Force Integration Officer, Joint Force Headquarters, Jefferson City; and Mobilization & Readiness Officer, Joint Force Headquarters, Jefferson City.

Lt. Col. Bowden’s military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (second award), Army Commendation Medal (third award), Army Achievement Medal (second award), Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (third award), National Defense Service Medal (second award), Global War or Terrorism Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, and the Missouri Governor’s Unit Citation Ribbon.

Justin lives in Linn and is married to Maj. Amy Bowden. They have three children, Ethan and Aubryn Bowden, and Avery Cordonneir (deceased).

After the ceremony, wreaths will be placed on veterans’ graves at St. George Cemetery.

St. George is hosting the Wreaths for Heroes program for the seventh year. It was brought to Linn by Dan and Charlotte Schnieders.

Debbie Backes will serve as the Master of Ceremonies. VFW Post 4756 of Linn will provide an Honor Guard for the event, and Scouts BSA Troop 17 and 3017 and Cub Scout Pack 17 members will participate in the ceremony.