On Thursday, Nov. 11, the annual Minot Veterans Day program will take place in the Minot Municipal Auditorium Armory at 11 a.m.

The program provides a unique opportunity for the Minot community to show their support of veterans in a patriotic program and to recognize the veterans’ military service in-person. These veterans are your neighbors, co-workers, and family members from all military and humanitarian operations from World War II until present day.

The keynote address by Minot native U.S. Army Col. Gary Kramlich will be the highlight of the program.

Kramlich was born and raised in Minot, the second of eight children to Gary and Glory Kramlich. After graduating from Minot High School in 1992, he attended the United States Military Academy, receiving a commission in 1996 as a second lieutenant in the infantry. He held multiple operational assignments as a mechanized platoon leader, support platoon leader, brigade planner and rifle infantry company commander.

Upon relinquishing command, he attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., where he obtained a master of science in Operations Research in 2005. He then served as an assistant professor at the United States Military Academy from 2005-2008. He was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., from 2008-2012 as the chief of assessments, where he deployed for a total of 26 months in Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom. In 2012, Kramlich took assignments in the Headquarters, Department of the Army G-3/5/7 as a strategic planner and later at the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command at Fort Belvoir, Va. In 2015, he then attended the U.S. Army War College followed with two years in U.S. Africa Command in Stuttgart, Germany.

His most recent assignments were as the chief of Operations Research at the Joint Improvised-threat Defeat Organization, where he also deployed to Iraq for six months for Operation Inherent Resolve in 2019 and assisted the Executive Office of the President during the initial COVID-19 response. He is currently assigned to the Pentagon as the director of Resource, Analysis and Integration, G-3/5/7 on the Army Staff.

Kramlich has been awarded numerous military medals and earned the Jumpmaster skill identifier, the Army Parachutist Badge, the Army Air Assault Badge, the Expert Infantryman’s Badge and the Ranger Tab.

He and wife, Sandra, have four daughters, Georgia, Catalina, Isabel and Gabriella.

Minot’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 753 and Auxiliary are in charge of this year’s program.

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Veterans Day breakfast

A freewill donation pancake and sausage breakfast will be held Thursday, Nov. 11, from 6-11 a.m. at the Minot American Legion, 1949 N. Broadway. The breakfast is open to the community.

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Thank a vet this Veterans Day

“Thank You For Your Service” is an often heard acknowledgement of a veteran’s service and efforts in defense of our country. In the Minot community especially, this appreciation is frequently and sincerely given whenever veterans are recognized. Most, if not all veterans self-consciously appreciate this simple statement of thanks.