Karianne Klem, a Kristiansund resident and Navy veteran, received a medal for her service during a ceremony. According to NRK Møre og Romsdal, Klem served 15 years in the Navy and spent six consecutive months on a frigate in Northern Europe as part of a NATO exercise. She worked in communication and liaison, and while family visits were possible in short periods, the crew remained on alert around the clock. Klem noted a stark difference in how military service is regarded in Norway compared to the United States, where veterans receive more visible appreciation. She now works in a store and has started a family.
Veteran support in Norway has increased in recent years, with the establishment of a veteran portal. Fred Robert Alfredsen, area chief for the Home Guard in Kristiansund and Averøy, told NRK Møre og Romsdal that the portal provides information for service members, families, and employers. Ingunn Strand, a veteran contact in Kristiansund, described the day as important both for veterans and for society amid global challenges.
There you find information both for those who wish to go on service, the family at home, children and employers.