Border States solutes military year-round with ‘Red Shirt Fridays’

As a 31-year military veteran, Border States retiree John Dohm has always loved the red, white and blue.

But red is extra special.

It all started in the mid-90s, on a day that seemed like any other. Dohm was working the front desk at Border States’ Fargo branch, when a thought popped into his head.

“Supporting my fellow troops has always been my forte, and I wanted to express my appreciation for their service,” Dohm says.

Dohm proposed that, in addition to the branch’s standard line-up of shirts – one for every day of the week – there should be one shirt that honors the United States Armed Forces. Every Friday, he began sporting a customized red shirt he ordered from Fargo-based White Banner Uniforms.

Thus, a Border States tradition was born. Today, nearly every employee at the Fargo branch takes part in the weekly salute by wearing matching red shirts. It’s a tradition that makes Branch Manager Treavor Peterson proud.

“I appreciate that Border States promotes a culture of military support,” Peterson says. “We have the right to be free because we have a military who fights for our country – and other countries.”

The name Red Shirt Fridays comes from an existing nonprofit that made the shirts an official calling card of military support.

“I get tears in my eyes,” Dohm says. “I’m just so proud to have been part of the military and part of this country.”