Sergeant Carter sings the National Anthem during UND's football game

Tech. Sgt. Robert F. Carter, NCO-in-charge of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 610 at the University of North Dakota, sings the National Anthem during UND’s Military Appreciation Day Aug. 30, 2012, at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, N.D. The event was co-sponsored by UND and the Grand Forks and East Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Susan L. Davis)

UND football takes on South Dakota School of Mines

The University of North Dakota kicked off its 2012 football season against the South Dakota School of Mines Aug. 30, 2012, at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, N.D. Military Appreciation Day guests and local fans were treated to a record-breaking season opening game as UND shut out the Hardrockers 66 to 0. Local military members and their families were invited to attend a tailgate buffet and UND’s first football game of the season free of charge, courtesy of UND Athletics and the Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, Minn., Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Susan L. Davis)

Honor Guard presents the colors

120830-F-NI374-0038 The Grand Forks Air Force Base Honor Guard presents The Colors during the University of North Dakota’s Military Appreciation Day Aug. 30, 2012, at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, N.D. The event was co-sponsored by UND and the Grand Forks and East Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Susan L. Davis)

Crowd at UND cheers during football game

University of North Dakota fans cheer on the offense as it adds another six points to its 66 to 0 victory over the South Dakota School of Mines Aug. 30, 2012, at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, N.D. Local military members and their families were invited to attend a tailgate buffet and UND’s first football game of the season free of charge, courtesy of UND Athletics and the Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, Minn., Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Susan L. Davis)

Colonel Mann speaks at UND

Col. Christopher Mann, 319th Air Base Wing vice commander, speaks at the University of North Dakota Military Appreciation Day tailgate buffet before UND squared off against the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Aug. 30, 2012, at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, N.D. The event was co-sponsored by UND and the Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, Minn., Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee. Mann thanked both the MAC and UND for sponsoring such an enjoyable event. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Susan L. Davis)

UND and MAC give back at Military Appreciation Day event

Published Sept. 5, 2012
By Senior Airman Susan L. Davis
319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Service members from Grand Forks Air Force Base were out in full force Aug. 30 for a Military Appreciation Day event at the Alerus Center here.

The event kicked off the 2012 college football season, where the University of North Dakota squared off against South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Free tickets were given away to the first 1,000 Department of Defense ID cardholders, compliments of UND Athletics. Prior to kickoff, UND also hosted a tailgate buffet in the Alerus Center Ballroom sponsored by the Military Affairs Committee, the military relations division of the Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, Minn., Chamber of Commerce.

According to their website, the purpose of the Military Affairs Committee is to foster a strong relationship between the two communities and the military units in the region and help provide community support for future missions.

Kimberly Strom, program and event director for the Chamber, who works with the MAC, said the event was held in honor of retired World War II veteran Maury Rothkopf, who along with his wife, Harriet, was a goodwill ambassador between the community and the military for many years. Following her husband's death, Harriet continued to take an active role in the Military Appreciation Day events held every year, personally greeting military members and their families, until her death in 2011 at the age of 97.

"This event is just a small way for us all to say thank you with a night out free of charge for our military members and their families," Strom said.

She expressed great appreciation to the UND Athletic Department for providing the venue for the tailgate buffet and free tickets to the game.

In addition to the free buffet and moon bounce for children, attendees were also treated to a live performance by the UND Pride of the North Marching Band before the game.

Strom said she believes that the MAC has a strong mutual relationship with Grand Forks AFB and local Air National Guard units.

"The MAC comes out to Grand Forks Air Force Base for Summer Bash and Winter Bash where we serve lunch each time, and we have served Christmas dinner at the Guard base's armory," she said. "The MAC also donates financially to quarterly and annual awards events at Grand Forks Air Force Base."

Col. Christopher Mann, 319th Air Base Wing vice commander, made a few comments at the tailgate buffet before the game, thanking both the MAC and UND for sponsoring such an enjoyable event.

Following the tailgate buffet, attendees filed into the stadium where the Grand Forks Air Force Base Honor Guard presented the colors during the National Anthem, sung by Tech. Sgt. Robert F. Carter, NCO-in-charge of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 610 at UND.

"We are very proud of our military, and we want to do everything we can to keep them here," Strom said. "An event like this is a great way to get into the community. When you move from place to place, you want to do what you can to create a sense of belonging and a sense of home, and we're hoping that we can give that to our military members with events like this."