Hayden announces Ogram as Distinguished Veteran

All vets to be honored during Veterans Day ceremonies

HAYDEN — The city of Hayden and the Hayden Veterans Commission will hold its Veterans Day Ceremony and recognize the 2016 Distinguished Veteran of the Year at Hayden City Hall near the PFC Robert J. Gordon Veterans Memorial Plaza at 11 a.m. Nov. 11.

Hayden's 2016 Distinguished Veteran of the Year is Margaret Ogram.

Among her many accomplishments, Ogram served in the U.S. Air Force from 1953-1960. During her service, she was assigned to the Air Defense Command in Albuquerque, N.M., as an operations intelligence specialist/technician and promoted to staff sergeant. She was awarded the Good Conduct and National Defense Service medals. She was accepted into Officer Candidate School in 1957 and commissioned to a second lieutenant. She was then assigned to the 69012th Special Communications Group in Zweibruecken, Germany, as a communications intelligence officer, promoted to first lieutenant and met and married her husband, Al.

In 1967, Ogram returned to work and was employed by the USPS as a mail clerk, management trainee and contracting officer. She worked as a contract negotiator for American Forces Radio and Television in Hollywood and as a contracts negotiator and contracting officer at Los Angeles Air Force Station in California. After retiring in 1988, she worked for Rockwell International as a contracts administrator on the B-1 program and for Northrop Grumman on the B-2 program. In 1996, she retired a second time, and she and Al moved to Hayden.

Since retirement, Ogram has served as second and first vice commander for Post 1950 Catholic War Veterans and as second vice commander for American Legion Post 153, Rathdrum. She is currently a member of American Legion Post 143 in Post Falls and serves on the Honor Guard. She is a volunteer for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve and was named the ESGR “Rising Star of Idaho” in 2014 and awarded the ESGR Seven Seals Award for the Outstanding Volunteer in North Idaho. She was the chair for service providers for the Kootenai County Veterans Stand Down for five years and is a valued commissioner on the Hayden Veterans Commission.

"Margaret has exemplified dedication and volunteerism and richly deserves the city of Hayden’s 2016 Distinguished Veteran award," the city of Hayden stated in a press release.

The guest speaker for this year’s ceremony will be Ed Santos, retired Army officer, DOD master level military instructor and the owner of Center Target Sports. He is a threat management specialist, was a Level 1 reserve deputy sheriff for more than 10 years and a certified dignitary protection specialist and dignitary protection driver. Santos teaches, lectures and conducts research throughout the United States, Europe, the Middle East, South America and Asia. He is a frequent presenter at national and international law enforcement conferences and conventions.

In 2013, Santos authored his second book, titled “Low-Light Combatives.” His first book, titled "Rule the Night — Win the Fight," was published in 2008 and in 2010 was translated into multiple languages. He is a contributing writer for many articles in law enforcement and security industry magazines. Santos is a member of International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA), International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors (IALEFI), National Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors Association (NLEFIA), National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) and the National Rifle Association (NRA).

Refreshments will be served in the City Council Chambers in celebration of the 2016 Distinguished Veteran immediately following the ceremonies.

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