Color it Red, White & Blue
Veteran’s Funerals Are SpecialThe phone rings and the information is passed to Mark Roth, Funeral Director and part-owner of Thomas Family Funeral home in Minot. “They (the North Dakota Veterans’ Home in Lisbon, ND) notified us that a Carpio area resident, Ernie Hoelscher had passed away, so the planning really starts in earnest for his […]
Minot VFW to Host Community Veterans Day Service Nov. 11
JoAnne Rademacher, Northern Sentry Contributor The Minot VFW Post 753 presents a Veteran’s Day Service on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, 11 AM at Minot Municipal Auditorium Armory. Please join your neighbors in a celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. The […]
A Legacy of Service, Courage and Determination: Remembering Veteran Frank LeRoy Tracy
At 18, Frank LeRoy Tracy made a decision that would take him from his home in Georgia into a demanding military career, specialized training, and assignments overseas. His experiences in the United States Army included Airborne Ranger school, advanced sniper training in England, assignments in Korea and Southeast Asia, and later training soldiers at Fort […]
The Instant MP
A boy born in rural North Dakota found himself wearing the badge of Military Police. It wasn’t his plan or his training, but rather a reality of Army life. Pat Schmidt, 94, Minot, was born in New Salem, North Dakota. He attended elementary school in that rural community through third grade. Then his family moved […]
From Hazelton to Attu: Remembering Albert “Bert” Baker
Oct. 15, 1940 was a day like any other for Hazelton man Albert Harris Baker. A day later his world would change in a very big way. Bert Baker, as everyone called him, registered for the draft, even though the United States wasn’t at war at the time. But by September, 1942, he was called […]
Ernie Hoelscher –the Extraordinary Man
JoAnne Rademacher, Northern Sentry Contributor Much has been written and told about Ernie Hoelscher’s heroism and strength during his service with the U.S. Army in Korea. He deserves the accolades tenfold. It is not, however, the whole story. Ernie was a family man, farmer, historian, and fixture in the neighborhood. Best of all, he was […]
Honoring Veterans an Important Mission
From Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia to Rosehill Cemetery in Minot, North Dakota, the purpose of the ceremony is the same – to honor all those who have served in the military. In Minot, this year’s Wreaths Across America tribute to veterans begins at 11am Saturday, December 19 at Rosehill Cemetery. “We will have a […]
Service Through the Generations
Military service is often described through years served, ranks earned, and places stationed, but for the families who live it, service is also found in the memories carried home, the friendships that become family, and the lessons passed from one generation to the next. For the Kellerman families, military service is part of a story […]
What Does it Really Mean to Thank a Veteran?
“Thank you for your service.” It’s something we hear spoken to veterans and active-duty service members alike. In fact, many of us have probably said these words to someone else at least once in our lives. The phrase is simple, familiar, and well-intentioned. Yet, how can such a short phrase express all the gratitude we […]