More changes are coming for the VA Oklahoma City Healthcare System as it strives to meet the demands of a growing Veterans population in Oklahoma.
The latest was the opening of a new location in for the Women’s Health Clinic and specialty care clinics which are relocating from the VA Medical Center.
The North Portland VA Clinic will consist of two separate buildings and will cover a total of 25,604 square feet, said Wade Vlosich, Director of the Oklahoma City HealthCare System. The facilities will employ 75 staff members.
Building 5, located at 3625 NW 56th Street, will house the Women’s Health Clinic, Imaging, and Lab services. This relocation will provide the women’s Veteran population with a facility outside of the VA Medical Center.
This move will offer an environment for female Veterans who may feel uncomfortable using the medical center due to past trauma.
Building 3, located at 3613 NW 56th Street, will house Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Orthopedics, Podiatry, Urology, Optometry, Ophthalmology, and the Optical Shop.
“We will also be opening a mega clinic in Yukon,” Vlosich said. “We will be having a new hospital in Norman, so it will be a substance abuse treatment facility and a nursing home unit.”
Vlosich said rural America is needing more healthcare options including nursing home beds.
“What’s happened in the state of Oklahoma as rural America starts to see some collapse in healthcare, we’re losing nursing homes,” he said. “The VA does not have in the state of Oklahoma enough nursing home beds for veterans. We have been talking to the ODVA, and what we are looking at is a partnership because they have some unused beds. We are talking about making a share agreement where we will set up VA staff nursing homes in ODVA space because they are not able to fill that. And it meets the needs of both sides. We are looking at a partnership in Norman to expand nursing home beds there and in Sulfur and Ardmore. The VA is opening a new clinic in Stillwater.
Vlosich said the VA had a market assessment done for veteran needs and services in Oklahoma City and the rest of the state for potential future expansion.
“They did a market assessment, and they looked at all the workload for Oklahoma and how it compared to other states also growing in veteran population.
“They talked to us that if the growth in the city/state occurs, they’re expecting that we’ll need a clinic in Guthrie and Duncan in the near future,” he said.

On October 7, 1911, a gunfight erupted between a posse of lawmen and train robber Elmer McCurdy. Elmer would not survive the encounter. He would, however, go on to become a legend. The story of outlaw-turned-mummy Elmer McCurdy garners worldwide interest and has been featured in books, documentaries and a Broadway musical. The Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library in Guthrie is the home of his story, and the “Boot Hill” section of Summit View Cemetery on the edge of town is his final resting place.
Join the Oklahoma Territorial Museum on Zoom on Tuesday, October 7, at noon as museum director Michael Williams moderates a discussion on the life and afterlife of Elmer McCurdy with David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna, creators of the Broadway musical “Dead Outlaw.”
Yazbek is an American writer, musician, composer and lyricist. He wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway musicals “The Full Monty,” “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown,” “The Band’s Visit,” “Tootsie” and “Dead Outlaw.” He won a Tony and a Grammy for “The Band’s Visit.” He also consulted on the musical “Buena Vista Social Club.”
Della Penna is a composer, lyricist, instrumentalist and vocalist who has appeared on over 60 rock, pop and Americana albums. He has toured and recorded extensively with Joan Osborne, Natalie Merchant and Joan Baez and has worked with legendary music producer T Bone Burnett. He is conservatory-trained, holding a BFA in Classical Guitar from the Mannes School of Music (now The New School). He also plays the banjo, lap steel guitar and mandolin. In 2024, he won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics for “Dead Outlaw,” which was off-Broadway at the time.
This event is free; however, spots are limited, and registration is required. A registration form is available online.
The Oklahoma Territorial Museum is located at 406 E. Oklahoma Ave. in Guthrie. For more information, please call 405-282-1889. Please visit okhistory.org.

CAR/GUN/CYCLE SHOWS

Cruise-In to Bridging Vines
Nov 1, 2025 LOCATION: 11216 N Cimarron Rd Yukon, OK 73099 Note: This November, head to Yukon for the Cruise-In to Bridging Vines. Enjoy a classic car show, live music by classic rock band Intention and delicious food from Big Mama’s Spuds & Sweets.

Rodeo Hall of Fame Weekend
Nov 7, 2025 – Nov 8, 2025 LOCATION: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Oklahoma City, OK 73111 Note: Come salute the best in the rodeo world at the Rodeo Hall of Fame Weekend in Oklahoma City. Held at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, the Hall of Fame Class celebrates the story and people of rodeo culture.

Battle of Honey Springs Reenactment Nov 7, 2025 – Nov 9, 2025 LOCATION: Honey Springs Battlefield Checotah, OK 74426 Note: Commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of Honey Springs with a special demonstration of the battle in Checotah near Rentiesville. Come and witness as costumed actors bring to life the largest military clash ever to have occurred in Oklahoma.

Wanenmacher’s Tulsa Arms Show
Nov 8, 2025 – Nov 9, 2025 LOCATION: Tulsa Expo Square Tulsa, OK 74153 Note: The Wanenmacher’s Tulsa Arms Show is one of the largest firearms shows in the world.

Cars N’ K9s
Nov 15, 2025 LOCATION: 201 S Division, Asher, OK Note: A benefit for animal rescues, featuring classic cars, trucks, imports, and bikes. It includes food trucks, vendors, and a chance to win a prize for bringing a toy for the Asher Angel Tree.

EV Car Show – By First United Bank –
Nov 15, 2025 LOCATION: 201 S Division, Asher, OK Note: A benefit for animal rescues, featuring classic cars, trucks, imports, and bikes. It includes food trucks, vendors, and a chance to win a prize for bringing a toy for the Asher Angel Tree.

UWCO Emerging Leaders spread holiday cheer to local seniors

United Way of Central Oklahoma’s (UWCO) Emerging Leaders served a warm holiday meal and more on Dec. 2 at the nonprofit’s annual Senior Holiday Gala, where nearly 200 local seniors enjoyed a festive evening at the Oklahoma History Center.
Clients of UWCO’s Partner Agencies: Catholic Charities, Metro Better Living Center, Urban League and Sunbeam were treated to a catered holiday meal, gifts, dancing and more. Members of the University of Central Oklahoma Pom and Cheer squad and Buddy the Broncho were also on hand to provide entertainment and socializing for the seniors. Santa Claus and Mrs. Clause were even in town!
“This is one of the sweetest events our Emerging Leaders put on,” UWCO President & CEO Rachel C. Holt said. “We are so grateful to have volunteers like them who put so much effort into making this event a winter wonderland for the seniors our Partner Agencies serve.”
Emerging Leaders is a UWCO affinity group for young professionals. Throughout the year, Emerging Leaders, who contribute $500 or more to UWCO, experience various social and professional development opportunities. Learn more about Emerging Leaders by emailing [email protected].

What an honor and a privilege to be part of the inaugural Chaplain’s Corner segment. My name is SFC (Ret.) George Shafer, and I am the Chaplain for The American Legion LeBron Post 58 in Guthrie, OK.
I recently graduated seminary with a capstone thesis about online ministry and American Veterans. During the research phase of development, I felt as though the Lord directed me to Matthew chapter 8 verses 5-18 which states: “When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, ‘Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.’ And he said to him, ‘I will come and heal him.’ But the centurion replied, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.’ When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, ‘Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ And to the centurion Jesus said, ‘Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.’ And the servant was healed at that very moment.”

Matthew 8:5-13 (ESV)

This passage is fascinating for several reasons. First, the geographical context of Capernaum at this time being “an important fishing village and commercial center…As a major city on the trade route, it had a Roman battalion, and one of the centurions approached Jesus.” Osborne and Arnold also believe that the centurion would have been either Syrian or Roman, and notes that the relationship between Romans/Syrian and the Jews was highly contentious.
Furthermore, this passage is the only one in Matthew’s gospel that “Jesus marvels at anything.” Jesus marveled at the faith of the centurion! But this passage gets even better; especially when we view this interaction within the scope of evangelism and missions. Osborne notes that “the miracle happened as much for the centurion as for his slave, and that in this, salvation has come not just to Israel but for the nations, so that the universal mission is found here in embryo.”
Did you catch that? Whereas we understand that the first Gentile conversion occurs in Acts under the command of God to Peter after his vision, here we find the Son of God himself carefully cultivating and preparing the way for Gentile inclusion… through a soldier.
If you are reading this and are struggling with your faith; perhaps the transition from soldier to civilian has been too much. Maybe you’re like me and your time in the military left you with scars, both visible and invisible. But I want you to know that He sees you. He hears you. He knows you and He completely understands you. The Gentile ministry that Jesus began with the Centurion over two thousand years ago in an embryonic state was not still-born but rather is alive and well in the pursuit of YOU.
I pray this message has encouraged you in your faith. If you have not yet considered the path of a faith-driven life, I would encourage you to stop by your local veteran service organization (The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, etc.) and speak to the local chaplain. May the Lord bless you and keep you, and may His face shine upon you in all you do today!
by Rev. George F. Shafer, SFC (Ret.), M.Div., B.S., Chaplain (TAL Post 58)

Today, VA OKC Healthcare System (OKC HCS) announced that it housed 367 Veterans experiencing homeless in Oklahoma this fiscal year. A total of 98.8% of these Veterans have not returned to homelessness and the OKC VA HCS Social Work Services continues to reach out to any unsheltered Veterans to ensure they have access to housing and other wraparound services they deserve.
Nationally, during this same time period, VA housed 43,116 Veterans experiencing homelessness, surpassing its fiscal year 2024 goal to house 41,000 Veterans a month earlier than anticipated. A total of 96.3% of the Veterans housed have not returned to homelessness, and 38,476 unsheltered Veterans have been engaged nationally.
Preventing and eliminating Veteran homelessness is a top priority for VA and the entire Biden-Harris Administration. Between 2022 and 2023, VA permanently housed nearly 87,000 Veterans. As a result of these efforts, the number of Veterans experiencing homelessness in the U.S. has fallen by over 4% since early 2020 and by more than 52% since 2010.
“No person who has served this country should ever have to experience homelessness,” said VA Secretary Denis McDonough. “As a result of this year’s efforts, more than 43,000 formerly homeless Veterans now have access to the homes that they deserve. And make no mistake: we won’t rest until every Veteran has a safe, stable, accessible, and affordable home to call their own.”
VA and the entire administration have taken considerable steps this year to combat Veteran homelessness. This week, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness released the federal government’s first ever framework for homelessness prevention and launched a new series spotlighting local and federal efforts to prevent homelessness. Last month, VA awarded more than $800 million in grants via its Supportive Services for Veteran Families and Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem programs, and in July, awarded over $26 million in grants to support legal services for Veterans facing homelessness. Additionally, last month, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and VA announced policy changes that will help more Veterans receive housing assistance under the HUD-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program.
VA’s efforts to combat Veteran homelessness are grounded in reaching out to homeless Veterans, understanding their unique needs, and addressing them. These efforts are built on the evidence-based “Housing First” approach, which prioritizes getting a Veteran into housing, then providing or connecting them with the wraparound services and supports they need to stay housed, including health care, job training, legal and education assistance, and more.
Every day, VA staff and VA’s community partners nationwide help Veterans find permanent housing, such as apartments or houses to rent or own, often with subsidies to help make the housing affordable. In some cases, VA staff and partners help Veterans end their homelessness by reuniting them with family and friends.
Visit the VA.gov/homeless to learn about housing initiatives and other programs supporting Veterans experiencing homelessness.

Lt. Colonel (Ret.) Bill Williams, 99, was born to fly.

Williams, a resident at Album Quail Springs, a retirement community located at 14201 N. Kentucky Avenue in Oklahoma City, will turn 100 on Dec. 21. A party will be held at noon on Dec. 22 at Album Quail Springs to honor him.

He is a Veteran of World War II and the Korean War.

“The war (World War II) was slowing down, and so my folks let me sign up for the Army. And I signed up for the aviator cadet program, and they called me in July of 1944, and went through the training,” Williams said.

Williams, a North Carolina native, was stationed in Schofield, South Carolina, and later in Montgomery, Alabama awaiting an opening in the aviator cadet program.
Williams, who lived in Alabama as a child, worked weekends at his grandfather’s farm near Montgomery.

“Every weekend I was up on the farm with my uncle on my grandfather’s farm,” he said.
After being discharged from the Army, Williams attended the University of North Carolina for three years, before a fellow student passed on information that changed the trajectory of his life.

“One morning as I was leaving the barracks to go to class, a friend of mine passed by,” Williams said. “He said, “He said, ‘Hey, I understand the Air Force is recruiting cadets again.’ I said, ‘Good.’ I skipped to class and went to a recruiter in Chapel Hill.”

The Korean War started on June 25, 1950, and ended on July 27, 1953, after the signing of an armistice agreeing that the country would remain divided.

At the end of the Second World War, Korea – which had formerly been occupied by the Japanese – was divided along the 38th parallel. This was an internal border between North and South Korea based on a circle of latitude.

North Korea, supported by the Soviet Union, invaded the south on June 25, 1950, which was supported by the United States.

The three-year war was exceptionally bloody and led to the deaths of 3 million people and tens of thousands of casualties.

Williams was stationed in Okinawa, Japan when the war broke out.

Six weeks later, he found himself flying out of Japan on his first mission against the enemy in Korea.

He flew his jet out of Kimpo Air Base a few miles west of Seoul, but the communist Koreans and Chinese soon put a stop to United States flights out of Kimpo.

In the early winter of 1950, the communists launched an offensive, which nearly pushed the United Nations fighting forces into the ocean.

“The enemy was six miles away from Kimpo. We tried to strafe the advanced troops with rockets and machine guns, but they just overpowered us,” Williams said previously in a newspaper interview. “We evacuated and flew to Japan. They ran us out.”

Williams was with the 16th Fighter Interceptor Squadron of the 51st Fighter Wing. It was the squadron’s primary job to win ground support and go behind the lines and stick and wreck anything that looked military.

Williams was later detached from the Air Force and was sent back to Korea with an infantry division at the front. The Army needed a combat expert pilot to direct fire pilots from the ground to nearby enemy installations.

“I was attached to an artillery group,” he said. “When our ground guns got out of range of targets, I’d call out our fighters, and they’d take over.”

A month later, he returned to his old outfit.

Williams holds the Distinguished Flying Cross for action near the Yalu River when the Chinese started pushing the U.S. out of North Korea.

“The Chinese caught a large convoy of ours in retreat,” he said. “The vehicles were surrounded and the battle probably killed thousands of Americans. We went up there on a flight of two planes, and saw 200, 300 American trucks on the side of the road with no signs of life.”
Williams said he did see the enemy.

“I shot two men near a Howitzer and went from there to another Korean town and found more trucks cut off from the route of retreat,” he said. “We left there and found a couple of hundred Chinese troops on the road. We strafed them and probably killed 50. Later, the two planes returned to the entrapped vehicle and destroyed as many as we could to keep them from falling into the communist hands.”

In the spring of 1951, Williams returned to the US and was stationed in Nevada and Kansas. He has 100 flying missions to his credit over enemy territory in the Korean War.

Williams summed up his thoughts on the Korean War in his newspaper interview.

“You can’t let the communists have everything. The war was justified. President Truman did the right thing,” he said. •
story and photos by Van Mitchell, staff writer

Chief Damage Controlman Dennis Cherry II, of Oklahoma City, Okla., conducts a debrief with the response team following an aircraft firefighting drill on the flight deck aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Sterett after an aircraft firefighting drill, Jan. 6, 2025. The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brianna Walker

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Cameron Todd, from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, mounts a dental model using plaster stone aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in the Pacific Ocean, Jan. 29, 2025. Nimitz is underway in U.S. 3rd fleet conducting routine training operations. photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Caylen McCutcheon

Logistics Specialist Seaman Recruit Ashtyn Burch, from Norman, Oklahoma, bands pallets of hazardous materials in the hangar bay onboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, in preparation for Docked Planned Incremental Availability while in-port Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Washington. Ronald Reagan provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the United States. photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kleighton Vitug

Seaman Elijah Meksula, from Oklahoma, City, Oklahoma, stands watch on the bridge wing of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Milius (DDG 69) in the Philippine Sea, Feb. 20. Milius is forward-deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface.

Retirement isn’t what it used to be. In fact, according to entrepreneur and speaker Bob Loudermilk, traditional retirement as we know it is obsolete.

His new book, “Never Retire: Reinvent Yourself for Life’s Second Half,” invites readers to reject the old notion of slowing down and instead embrace life’s second half as their most meaningful, adventurous, and impactful season yet.

For generations, people have been taught that the pinnacle of success is reaching the day you stop working. But Loudermilk argues that the traditional script is broken. Longer lifespans, shifting economies, and a universal longing for purpose mean that “checking out” at 65 is not only unrealistic for many-it can also be harmful.

“Traditional retirement too often leads to boredom, loss of identity, and even decline,” Loudermilk says. “But what if these years could actually become your most vibrant, productive, and meaningful chapter yet?”

“Never Retire” shows readers how to trade the myth of retirement for the joy of reinvention. With a blend of powerful storytelling, practical strategies, and research-backed insights, Loudermilk paints a picture of what’s possible when people bring the same creativity, grit, and courage that shaped their first half of life into the second.

Readers will meet people who refused to fade away-entrepreneurs who started businesses later in life, artists who created masterpieces in their seventies and eighties, and everyday men and women who found new callings that gave them a fresh sense of joy and contribution.

“Many people, after retiring from an active career, loose their vitality quickly if they don’t remain active,” Loudermilk said. “Parking in front of the television and not engaging in social interaction is a recipe for rapid decline. My slogan is, don’t retire FROM something, retire TO something. The book is all about mindset and strategies to make your second half of life some of your best years.”

Loudermilk said this is not a book of theory. It is a practical roadmap for designing a second half filled with purpose, vitality, and lasting impact. Each chapter helps readers think differently, dream bigger, and take meaningful action to create a future worth living into. “It’s different from anything else on the shelf, and I think it will resonate with readers who are 50+,” he said.”

Loudermilk said the release of “Never Retire” is incredibly timely. With approximately 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 every day in America, this cultural moment demands a new way of thinking.

Loudermilk believes now is the time to dismantle outdated views of aging and replace them with a vision of possibility.
“The message is clear: the second half of life is not about retreat-it is about reinvention,” he said.
Dave Sheets of BelieversBookServices praised Loudermilk’s book.
“Bob Loudermilk doesn’t just challenge the idea of retirement-he dismantles it with wisdom and hope,” he said. “This book is a must-read for anyone approaching life’s ‘next act.’”
Loudermilk brings decades of entrepreneurial and mentoring experience to this message. He is also the cofounder of the Second Half Expo, the annual event that equips thousands of adults 50+ to thrive with resources, inspiration, and community. His passion for helping others live boldly in their later years flows through every page of the book.
The official launch celebration for “Never Retire” will take place on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at the Second Half Expo inside the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.
Attendees will hear Loudermilk speak, connect with others who share the vision, and join in the book launch party at 10 a.m., marking the beginning of a movement. Details for the Expo are at www.SecondHalfExpo.com

Loudermilk said his message to readers is contained in this declaration: “I am not done yet. There is more in me than I realized. I have a legacy that I will be leaving, and I am creating my legacy right now. There is more ahead.”

He concluded “The closing chapter is about living by an ultimate operating system, which is faith. It is about living with an expectation that you have a purpose and that your life matters.”

Readers can download free sample chapters of the book or order their copy today at https://secondhalfexpo.com/never-retire/ . • story by Van Mitchell, staff writer

Although far fewer WWII veterans are alive or able to attend ceremonies, eight of our Greatest Generation celebrated the 80^th anniversary of the end of WWII at the Claremore Veterans Home auditorium on Sept. 2.  Scott Hannaford, owner of Buffalo Challenge Coins, planned the successful event around giving a “Ruptured Duck” challenge coin to each veteran.

Hannaford addressed the eight veterans. “This celebration will be but a small gesture of which words can never fully convey our gratitude of their service.” After saying a prayer, presenting the Colors, singing the National Anthem and America the Beautiful (with gusto by Aubrey Bartmann) and paying respects to the POW/MIA Table, distinguished guests were introduced.  Oklahoma State Sen. Ally Seifried, District Two-Republican, Admiral Jay Bynum, Executive Director of Oklahoma Department of Veteran Affairs (ODVA) and Deborah Wimpey, Mayor of Broken Arrow were recognized.

What is a Ruptured Duck?

Hannaford explained, “In World War II, there was a clothing shortage…The United States Armed Forces came up with the Honorable Service Insignia, which depicted an eagle inside of a wreath. It was issued as a cloth patch or a lapel pin…It also allowed this discharged hero to wear their uniform for 30 days in order to have some time to obtain civilian clothing…Although to many, it looked more like a duck than an eagle…there was a common saying when someone was going quickly (leaving the service), they took off like a ruptured duck.” This brought chuckles from the 60 attendees.

Proclamation and Challenge Coins

Seyfried, whose district includes Claremore, read a special proclamation from the Oklahoma Governor. After reading five “Whereas” clauses, she ended with “it is fitting that the state of Oklahoma dedicates this day (Sep 2) as ‘Oklahoma Ruptured Duck Day’ in tribute to the iconic emblem worn by discharged service members and as a lasting acknowledgement of the legacy and heroism of our World War II veterans…”’

Hannaford, Wimpee and Donna Lee, with the VFW Post 577 Auxiliary, met each veteran where they were seated, thanked them for their service and gave them a Ruptured Duck challenge coin and a print of a patriotic eagle made by Air Force veteran Gil Cornett. Recipients Eugene Bargus, John Cockrum, Jerry Crockett, Robert Everitt, Joseph Menninger, William Mauch, Preston Wheaton and Billy Ray Young looked pleased.

Keynote Speaker

Josh Starks retired from the 45th Infantry Division, Oklahoma National Guard, after deploying to Afghanistan in 2011 and 2012.  He moved the audience with two stories of WWII veterans he knew. Space only allows for one story.

Starks said that when he was a child and visited his grandmother’s house on her farm, there was a smaller farmhouse where her brother, Paul, lived. “She would bring bread, some ham, some cheese, some water, and I never really understood it. I can think in the 15 years of going…out there, that man probably said five words to me that I understood.”

Paul served in WWII. “He was in the invasion, went all the way to Berlin, and when he came back, he was changed forever. When he came back, he couldn’t function, he couldn’t deal with life, he couldn’t deal with people. He had lost too many people along the way and had seen too many things that I found out much later.”

After Starks’ two-year tour in Afghanistan, he visited his grandmother and many family members came. Paul, in his 90s, lived in the main house then. “My uncle Paul… sprung up from his chair like he was 18 years old, ran to me, gave me a hug, and started telling me every story he had. He told me about his friends that he knew…” Starks grandmother, who had never cried before, wept uncontrollably.

Starks finished with the following. “So, when we talk about the cost of war, it runs deep. It’s not just the individuals that served, it’s the families that have taken care of those individuals that have served for their entire lives.”

During the event’s conclusion, each military service’s song was played – WWII veterans standing, Bartmann sang a moving “God Bless America,” and thanks were given to the Claremore Veterans Center, ODVA, Mission Barbecue for lunch, ARC Document Solutions, and to Keith Meyer and Donna Lee.

Note. This writer confirmed this was the only public event in Oklahoma celebrating the 80^th anniversary of WWII. The World War II Museum estimates 462 WWII Oklahoma veterans are alive in 2025. Robert Lige Everitt died on September 22, 2025. Bison Challenge Coins, https://bisonchallengecoins.com/#

• Story by Retired Lt. Col. Richard Stephens, Jr., USAFER. See Rich Travel Niche