NE North Dakota News

The University of North Dakota (UND) is organizing a series of events in honor of Veterans Day, which falls on November 11. The week will include ceremonies and activities aimed at recognizing the service and sacrifice of military veterans within the university community.

On Monday, November 10, UND’s Veteran & Military Services office will celebrate the U.S. Marine Corps birthday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at McCannel Hall, Room 170. Attendees can expect desserts and refreshments during this gathering.

Also on November 10, cookies and poppies will be distributed from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Memorial Union as part of Veterans Week activities. A similar event is planned for Wednesday, November 12, at the airport administration building.

For Veterans Day itself, Tuesday’s schedule includes a ceremony hosted by the University in collaboration with UND ROTC and the UND Alumni Association & Foundation. The event will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Gorecki Alumni Center, is free and open to all ages, and will feature remarks from university leaders along with refreshments.

Additionally, UND Art Collections is presenting its fifth annual Arts for Vets exhibition in Columbia Hall. An opening reception for the display is scheduled for Thursday, November 13, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The following week brings a visit from J.R. Martinez—actor, best-selling author, motivational speaker, and U.S. Army veteran—on November 19. Martinez will speak at the Memorial Union Ballroom from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., delivering a talk titled “Overcoming Adversity with Optimism and Resilience.” He plans to tour campus before his presentation and participate in a meet-and-greet immediately afterward.

Martinez gained national recognition through his roles on “All My Children” and as winner of season thirteen of “Dancing with the Stars.” His military service included deployment to Iraq with the U.S. Army in April 2003 when he was injured after his Humvee hit a roadside bomb in Karbala. Martinez endured severe burns and spent nearly three years recovering through dozens of surgeries.

During his recovery period, Martinez began speaking with other patients about their experiences as well as sharing his own story.