From honoring service men and women to the iconic Ellsworth Airforce Base B1 Bomber flyover, the annual Military Appreciation Day is steeped in tradition and ceremony

STURGIS, S.D. –Each year, the Black Hills become a meeting ground for hundreds of thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts, a significant portion of whom are active-duty service members, Guard members, and military veterans. Military Appreciation Day serves as a focal point during the rally, bringing together dignitaries, military leadership, and motorcycle clubs to honor those who have served – and continue to serve – in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Set for Tuesday, August 11, 2026, the official ceremonies at Harley-Davidson Rally Point in downtown Sturgis, open with a joint Army and Air Force color guard presenting the colors, followed by the National Anthem and official mayoral proclamations.

Day-long activities run from 9:00a.m. – 3:00p.m. and include a free breakfast for veterans, active military and first responders. as well as booths and partner organizations exhibits that set up to support veterans and active-duty service members. Ceremony and Presentations get underway at 1:00p.m. with an official VFW presentation honoring local Sturgis veterans and first responders. The iconic, low-altitude flyover of B-1B bombers from Ellsworth Air Force Base over downtown Sturgis is a time-honored tradition that occurs at 2:00p.m.

A central tradition of the event is recognizing local veterans and public servants who have transitioned from military service to community roles. Among those is Charles R. “Charlie” Gray (posthumously) and Craig Sanderson.

Charlie Gray
Some people leave a lasting impression through the positions they hold. Others are remembered for the way they made people feel. Charles R. “Charlie” Gray did both.

Gray, a respected military leader, devoted family man, proud Sturgis Scooper, and loyal friend, spent his life serving his country, supporting his community, and cherishing the people around him. His legacy is one of leadership, laughter, and a deep appreciation for the relationships that defined his life.

Gray was born on February 22, 1948, to Robert and Connie (Bestgen) Gray in Rapid City, South Dakota. He spent the first six years of his life on the family ranch near Hereford, where he and his brother Dave shared adventures that helped shape the values he carried throughout his life. Those early experiences instilled a love of family, friendship, and the simple joys of rural South Dakota.

When the family moved to Sturgis, Gray attended St. Martin’s Catholic School before graduating from Sturgis Brown High School in 1966. Like many of his generation, he answered the call to serve, joining the South Dakota National Guard after graduation. He later spent four years as a deputy sheriff under longtime Meade County Sheriff John Egger before returning to the Guard full-time.

Over the course of a distinguished military career, Gray earned a reputation as a respected leader and mentor. He served in numerous leadership positions, including Commander of the 109th Engineer Battalion, Recruiting and Retention Commander, and Chief of Staff of the South Dakota Army National Guard. His career culminated with his retirement in 2008 as the United States Property and Fiscal Officer for South Dakota.

While his professional accomplishments were significant, those closest to Gray know that his greatest pride was his family.

In 1974, he married Cynthia Bonin, beginning a partnership that would span more than five decades. Together they built a home filled with love, laughter, friends, and often a few extra pets that Cindy brought home. Their family grew to include three children — Elizabeth, Rebecca, and Robert — and later grandchildren and great-grandchildren who became the center of Charlie’s world.

Following retirement, Gray embraced the role he loved most: family supporter and cheerleader. A former wrestler himself, he remained a proud Sturgis Scooper and could frequently be found in the stands cheering on his children, grandchildren, and friends. Whether it was a sporting event, community activity, or family gathering, Charlie showed up. He believed that being present mattered.

He also maintained a lifelong affection for the western lifestyle. Though he joked that he was never quite a full-fledged cowboy, those who knew him would agree that he possessed a cowboy’s heart. He enjoyed annual brandings, the excitement of a winning Calcutta, and countless hours watching the Cowboy Channel. The values associated with ranch life — hard work, loyalty, and helping neighbors — remained central to who he was.

Gray had a gift for bringing people together. He loved a good card game, the thrill of a hot slot machine, and the stories that inevitably accompanied both. More than winning, he enjoyed the conversations, the camaraderie, and the chance to connect with others. Friends remember his unmistakable laugh, his rosy cheeks, and the way his eyes would squint when something struck him as particularly funny.

He took great pride in his children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, his country, and the community he called home. He valued honesty, generosity, and helping others whenever he could. Those qualities earned him the respect of countless people throughout western South Dakota.

Charlie Gray passed away on March 10, 2026, at the Gary Lippold Hospice House in Sturgis. Though his passing leaves a void for family and friends, his influence continues through the generations he helped shape.

His legacy can be seen in the strength of his family, the lives he touched through military service, and the friendships he nurtured over a lifetime. It lives on in the grandchildren and great-grandchildren who carry forward the values he cherished and in the community that benefited from his leadership and kindness.

Charlie Gray’s story is ultimately one of service — service to country, service to community, and service to family. It is a story of a man who worked hard, loved deeply, laughed often, and left the world better than he found it.

For those fortunate enough to know him, that is how Charlie Gray will be remembered. Not simply for the titles he held, but for the life he lived and the people he loved.

Craig Sanderson
For Craig Sanderson, military service has never simply been a chapter of life – it has been a lifelong calling.

“I was born military,” Sanderson said with a smile. “I’ve been military all my life in some way, shape, or form.”

Born in Canton, South Dakota, Sanderson spent much of his childhood traveling the world as the son of a career Army serviceman and World War II veteran. His father’s military assignments took the family from South Dakota to Washington state, Germany, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and North Dakota before eventually returning home to South Dakota. Those experiences instilled in him a deep appreciation for service, patriotism, and the sacrifices made by military families.

After graduating from Canton High School in 1964, Sanderson briefly participated in Army ROTC before joining the South Dakota Army National Guard. He later enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he served as an Air Policeman. Stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, Sanderson was initially slated for deployment to Vietnam before receiving new orders to Strategic Air Command headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska, where he helped protect one of the nation’s most critical military installations during the Cold War.

His military experience would lay the foundation for a distinguished civilian career serving veterans. Following his Air Force service, Sanderson joined the Department of Veterans Affairs, where he spent more than four decades working on behalf of America’s veterans. Over a 43½-year career, he served in several locations, including Sioux Falls, Des Moines, Iowa, Biloxi, Mississippi, and Sturgis, ultimately retiring in 2010 as Chief of Logistics.

Throughout his career, Sanderson remained committed to supporting those who answered the nation’s call to serve.

“Veterans are America,” he said. “They answered the call. They served the country. I’ve been working with veterans all my life, and I don’t know anything I don’t like about them.”

Retirement did not slow his commitment to fellow veterans. Within months of leaving the VA, Sanderson became active with the Sturgis Honor Guard and the American Legion. Today, he serves as Commander of American Legion Post 33 and Co-Commander of the Sturgis Honor Guard.

Over the past 15 years, Sanderson has participated in more than 1,900 military funeral honors ceremonies throughout western South Dakota. Whether at Black Hills National Cemetery or small community cemeteries in towns such as Newell, Vale, White Owl, and Rochford, he and fellow Honor Guard members ensure veterans receive the respect they earned through their service.

When asked why he continues this work, Sanderson’s answer is simple.

“It isn’t a pleasure. It’s an honor,” he said. “That’s why we do it.”

Sanderson and his wife, Patricia, have built a family that includes three sons, daughters-in-law, and four granddaughters. Family remains at the center of his life, and he speaks proudly of the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren.

Despite a lifetime of service, Sanderson remains humble about being selected as a Military Appreciation Day honoree.

Like many veterans, his first reaction was to suggest someone else might be more deserving.

“Do I deserve the honor? No, give it to somebody else,” he said. “I don’t need it.”

Yet those who know him would argue otherwise.

His military service, decades of work on behalf of veterans, leadership within the American Legion, and dedication to honoring fellow servicemembers have touched countless lives throughout South Dakota.

As America celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2026, Sanderson hopes the milestone inspires something he believes the country needs most.

“Unity,” he said. “Be proud of this country. Let’s get together and accomplish something that’s good for everybody.”

The City of Sturgis is honored to recognize Craig Sanderson and Charlie Gray for their lifetime of service to their nation, their fellow veterans, and their community during Military Appreciation Day at the 86th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

See the complete schedule and more information on Military Appreciation Day, here .