Mayor Mark Jantzer recollects that he and Bruce Christianson, long time Task Force 21 members and active military supporters, became Honorary Commanders in 1987-1988. “I think I was the Honorary Commander for the supply Squadron” says Mayor Jantzer.
Mark McDonald and I have been teamed as Honorary Commanders for over 4 years. The relationship between Mark and I, and our spouses Cathy and Sue, goes far beyond the Honorary Commander installation banquets and other events. Mark and I have lunch on the 3rd Thursday of every month, barring COVID or a government shut down. I ask Mark about events from the 91st Missile Wing (BULLY) and he queries me about local political issues.
We might be Honorary Commanders, but it is really closer to an honor to get know a commander at the Minot Air Force Base. In the midst of all of their responsibilities, these Minot AFB share their time with someone from the Minot, or surrounding community. Let me share one example. Bruce Christianson, knowing that I work for the Northern Sentry and have a passion for writing about the Minot Air Force Base shared with me that his Honorary Commander was once Tony Cotton. “You know that Tony’s wife is from Minot, right?” asked Bruce. He comes back to Minot for the holidays and he’ll give me a call. I line you up with an interview with Tony.
I have learned that as a journalist the right answer is normally “sure, that would be great.” When I arrived at the Northern Sentry office I quickly did some internet research and found that Tony was Brigadier General Anthony Cotton then in line to be the Commander of the United State Strategic Command, and indeed Gen Cotton was stationed at Minot Air Force Base from 1986-1991.
At this 2026 Honorary Commander installation a number of Honorary Commanders were re-assigned because of the position they held within the Minot Chamber of Commerce, or their position as a member of Task Force 21. Yet others were to become first time Honorary Commanders with the goal of extending the special bond between Minot and The Minot Air Force Base.
Mark and I became Honorary Commander partners right before the COVID years, and the installation banquet was canceled that year. Just before Christmas I received my long awaited Honorary Commander plaque and proudly found a place for it on my living room wall. (The Northern Sentry office does not get much traffic.)
Mark and I, although we are not as tenured as Mark and Bruce, have a 4-year relationship as Honorary Commanders. And of course, we have to share stories and photos of our lives, children and now grandchildren. Because that is what good friends, and I think Honorary Commanders, should do.
The evening, as it always is, was special. Emcee Maj Tom Barger from Public Affairs shared a “Sentry” newspaper that was found in a time capsule inside a wall at the 91st Missile Wing. He made it a point to draw a parallel between how some things change, like the honorary commander teams, and some things don’t; like the importance and the effect of the Honorary Commander program.
