While drilling reservists enjoyed fun and food at Tinker AFB, veteran friendly businesses explained their services to customers in Piedmont on May 3rd.

Reservists and family of the 507th Air Refueling Wing, an Air Force Reserve Command, unit equipped KC-135 unit, enjoyed their annual Family Day in Hanger 1030. They ate hamburgers, played on air-inflated slides and bounce houses, looked at classic cars and of course, showed off their refueling tankers. Other static display aircraft on hand: a C-5 and C-17 cargo airplane and a T-1, T-6 and T-38 trainer.
What is Family Day? Event planner 1Lt Kennedy Humprey, 465th Aircraft Refueling Squadron, shared that it is “To show our families what we do as military members.” 1Lt Nick Pratt, also with the 465th, added, “Show appreciation to the families because it’s all for them.” Humprey said he expected 1,000 people to attend.
Reservists like what they do. “I like working on the planes that refuel our fighter and other combat mission aircraft, plus I enjoy exploring the world,” said MSgt Trevor Hardesty, a member of the Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. MSgt Lindsey Newton, the Engineering Squadron’s First Sergeant, said she likes serving in the 507th “because the people (reservists) are like family.”

Twenty-nine organizations manned tables offering services and products, such as 72d Air Base Wing’s Military Family Readiness Center and Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program, DoD’s Integrated Prevention & Resilience Office, VFW Post 8706 (Moore), and Big Brothers, Big Sisters. “I come because I want to help families with resources,” said Crystal Garcia with the Employee Assistance Program at Tinker AFB.
Gerardo Guzman, a 30-year retired Army Sergeant First Class, came because his son is a member of the wing. “My wife and I were proud for my son…” joining the Air Force Reserves.
According to the 507 ARW website (https://www.507arw.afrc.af.mil/About-Us/), “The wing operates and maintains eight KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft providing world-wide aerial refueling to U.S. and NATO aircraft in times of peace, war and national emergency” and “…consists of three subordinate groups and 11 squadrons while employing more than 1,200 men and women.”
Meanwhile, in Piedmont, the 4th Annual VetsFest 2025 was in full swing (with guitars, drums and keyboards) at the Piedmont Veterans Event Center. The Piedmont Area Veterans Association (PAVA)

( https://pavavets.org ), hosted the event. The Caroline Grace and J. Rod Wald bands played country music while Atlantis Aquarius entertained with psychedelic 60s style rock and roll for 300 people that attended. Grace joined the Atlantis Aquarius’ six band members to provide more vocals.
Twenty-five veteran-owned and veteran-connected businesses (colleges with veteran student services, etc.) came from throughout Oklahoma. Patriot Automotive of Piedmont is owned and operated by Jeremy Hays and John Leahr. Hays was a five-year U.S. Navy medical corpsman and Leahr is a 15-year drilling reservist with the 160th Oklahoma National Guard (U.S. Army). Hays said they wanted a booth to “let people know we are here to serve our community. You bring it in and we’ll fix it,” meaning vehicles of all makes, models and ages.
Ella Jefferson-Speed, founder and CEO of Soul Survivor Supportive Living Foundation, came to bring awareness to the organization. She is a 10-year U.S. Army veteran. She uses her experience to help “women with societal barriers like disability, homelessness, justice involved (jailed) and sobriety services.” The Soul Survivor handout says it’s a “501©3 that is dedicated to providing a safe, secure, and loving drug-free temporary home-solution for Veteran Women…” She estimated serving 25 women in 4 years.
Josh Cain was the lead event planner and is a PAVA board member. He said, “PAVA has done a lot of traditional things, for instance, (having) veterans affairs representatives, but beyond that, we are dynamically active in unique ways.” Holding VetsFest is one unique way. It allows them “to support veteran owned businesses and to celebrate veterans.” He said the event was a success because the overwhelming number of vendors were happy with the number of customers who engaged with them. Referring to event sponsors Ascent Midstream Partners, F&M Bank, Edward Jones and Express Employment International, Cain said, “I can’t say enough good things about how these guys care.” story/photos by Richard Stephens, Jr., Lt. Col, USAF Retired

By Marilyn Olson, Executive Director, VillagesOKC

March 29 will be a full day of celebration and commemoration for VillagesOKC members. It’s National Vietnam Veterans Day, and two major events will fill the day. A morning ceremony at the Oklahoma History Center Museum will honor all Vietnam-era veterans. An afternoon ceremony at Del City High School will recognize the character and sacrifice of 1st Lt. James Robert Kalsu.
VillagesOKC is partnering with the Oklahoma History Center Museum, the local offices of Humana, Oklahoma Warriors Honor Flight, the Force 50 Foundation and Navigating Medicare to host a pinning ceremony honoring all the servicemen and servicewomen, active or reservists, who served anywhere in the world during the Vietnam War-era. Each will receive a lapel pin inscribed with “A Grateful Nation Thanks and Honors You.”
The event will be held in the Devon Great Hall of the museum 10 a.m. to noon, with the doors opening at 9:00 a.m. This event is free and open to the public.
At 1 p.m. that afternoon, a larger-than-life monument to Kalsu will be unveiled at the Del City High School stadium which bears his name. At 1:30 p.m. in the Del City Performing Arts Center there will be a Vietnam-Era Veteran pinning ceremony and premier of the documentary “Uncommon Character – the Legacy of James Robert Kalsu.”
Kalsu was a stand-out student and Del City High School football star, an All-American at the University of Oklahoma, and Rookie of the Year for the Buffalo Bills, who became the only active professional athlete killed in action in the Vietnam War.
“If our children and grandchildren are to truly value the freedoms we have, it will be experiencing events like this where men and women are honored for their character and selfless acts of valor,” said VillagesOKC Executive Director Marilyn Olson. “VillagesOKC values our veterans and intends to continue finding ways to honor them.”
According to a release from the museum: “March 29 was designated as Vietnam Veterans Day by the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act, to be commemorated with annual nationwide events. Guided by the stipulations in that act, only Vietnam War veterans and their families are recognized. However, the Vietnam War Commemoration organization is providing recognition pins to honor any US veteran who served on active duty or in the reserves in the US Armed Forces at any time during the period of November 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975, regardless of location, Vietnam or elsewhere. Family members of any veteran unable to be present may also receive this pin.”
The keynote speaker will be Colonel “Chuck” DeBellevue who has been deemed “Ace of Aces;” one of only five to achieve that status from downing six North Vietnamese MiGs. Altogether, he logged 550 combat hours while flying 220 combat missions; 96 over Vietnam. His decorations include the Air Force Cross, three Silver Stars, three Legions of Merit, six Distinguished Flying Crosses, eighteen Air Medals and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Device. In 2012, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame and received the Congressional Gold Medal.

Visit: https://villagesokc.org/

Fifty years ago, immunologists were just beginning to understand a newly discovered type of white blood cell that would come to be known as the T cell. Decades of research have since shown these protective cells to be so crucial, we couldn’t survive without them.
Fast-forward to today, and research stands at a similar infancy with a closely related immune cell called innate lymphoid cells, or ILCs, says Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientist Xiao-Hong Sun, Ph.D.
The National Institutes of Health recently awarded Sun a $3.4 million grant to continue unraveling mysteries about these cells, including whether they may offer clues about the differences in immune reactions between children and adults.
“It’s far too soon to say whether we will someday discover ILCs play a role as profound as T cells,” said Sun, who holds the Lew and Myra Ward Chair in Biomedical Research at OMRF. “But I hope this research will begin to answer that question.”
Sun joined OMRF in 1999 and studied T cells until pivoting her research to ILCs when scientists discovered them about a decade ago.
Initially, researchers believed ILCs originated only in bone marrow. In 2019, Sun discovered the thymus, a gland near the heart, can also produce them. The thymus trains the immune system to distinguish friendly cells from invaders. It tends to shrink and become less active as we age.
“Our previous discovery was important because it may shed light on why immune reactions differ between children and adults,” Sun said. “Childhood onset of asthma and food allergies are just two examples. This new study may help explain the underlying causes and suggest new therapeutic approaches.”
“It took a half-century of painstaking work by scientists around the world to get to our current understanding of T cells,” said OMRF Executive Vice President & Chief Medical Officer Judith James, M.D., Ph.D. “That’s often how science works. Dr. Sun is applying similar approaches to understand ILCs in an accelerated way. I’m excited to see where her research leads.”
Sun’s grant, No. 1R01AI178947-01, was awarded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the NIH. Oklahoma City’s Presbyterian Health Foundation provided funding for Sun to collect preliminary data for this research.

My name is Jill Stephenson.

I moved to the Tulsa area earlier this year with my father. We are from Minnesota, however I spent the last four years in NW Arkansas and have previously lived in several other states. My only child honorably served in the military for three years before making the ultimate sacrifice to defend our beautiful America in 2009 at the age of twenty-one. Although I am not from Oklahoma and my son is counted as a MN fallen soldier, I will be sharing stories of Oklahoma/greater Tulsa area fallen military. My first offering will be about my son. Going forward I will focus on local families by sharing stories of courage, patriotism and selflessness. Above all, I want you to get to know the faces and the families of those who have sacrificed so much in the name of freedom.

My son Benjamin Kopp joined the military and became an Army Ranger out of respect and admiration for his great grandfather, a WWII veteran, and to avenge the events of September 11th. After 9/11, at the age of 13, Ben vowed to serve his country with determination and pride. He arrived at Ft. Benning, Georgia exactly one month after his high school graduation. His tenacity made him an accomplished Army Ranger only seven months later. The daily challenges of being an elite Army Ranger do not come easy, but quickly turns boys into men. Ben was no exception. On his first visit home, the change in him was noticeable and it was apparent he was doing exactly what he was meant to do.

Ben maintained his childhood friendships from his hometown of Rosemount, MN, but also established new friendships within his fellow brothers of the the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. He became known for his fearless attitude, crooked grin and his charm with the ladies. Ben had an infectious personality and all would agree he was a best friend to many. Ben served two tours in Iraq before his third tour in Afghanistan in May of 2009.

On July 10th, during a firefight with the Taliban, he saved the lives of six of his fellow Rangers before being shot in the leg. Unfortunately, recovery from the trauma his body endured from the gunshot wound and following surgery would prove to be too much. Ben Kopp died on July 18, 2009 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. Prior to his death, Ben ensured his living will stated that upon his death, all of his organs, bone, skin and tissue be donated. His donations saved or enhanced the lives of 60 people. His heart lived on and continued to beat for fifteen years and seven months in a woman from Illinois who passed away from health issues unrelated to her heart earlier this year. Ben’s strong ranger heart stayed with her until the objective was complete.

He distinguished himself with the Army Achievement Medal with two awards, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, Parachutist Badge and the Ranger Tab. Upon his death Ben was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Valor, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Purple Heart. He was also posthumously promoted to Corporal. Per his wishes, he is laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in the famed section 60, where he is surrounded by heroes from all conflicts dating back more than one hundred fifty years.

The pride I have been gifted in being Ben’s mother is something that has continued to grow. His positive influence and inspiration to all who knew him and many who came to know him after he died, remains alive and well. Among many admirable traits he possessed, Ben was also a champion of the underdog, an aspiring leader, humorous, driven, convicted, courageous and selfless. Saving the lives of his brothers on the battlefield and then of strangers upon his death, were true testaments to the kind of person he was.

He is sorely missed to this day by all who know and love him. In life and in death, Corporal Benjamin S. Kopp was and still is a hero. I couldn’t have asked for a better son. He was my best friend. We will always be the land of the free because of the brave.•
story by Jill Stephenson

As morning sun shone through the stained-glass windows of the beautiful St. Joachim Chapel, sixteen veterans, each adorned with a commemorative medal, took their places to serve as torchbearers in the 2024 Saint Ann Olympic Opening Ceremony. Patriotically-dressed residents and staff eagerly lined the attractive, newly remodeled rooms of Saint Ann Independent and Assisted Living. John Williams’ Olympic fanfare could be heard ringing in the background. Flags waved and onlookers beamed as each veteran passed the torch to the next, each hearing his name and military branch announced to thunderous cheers. The ceremony culminated with the “lighting” of the Olympic cauldron by 101-year-old Delora Mealor, who is well-known as “Rosie the Riveter.” She has been much recognized for her admirable contribution to the war effort as a riveter working on B-17 and B-25 planes during WWII.

The Saint Ann Olympic Games coincided with the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, as live coverage from Paris was streamed on the projector screen in the Grand Theatre. The community, consisting of assisted and independent living, a convent of Carmelite Sisters, and respite care residents, celebrated Team USA while competing for over 150 medals in twenty Olympic-themed events. Games included putting and chipping, chair volleyball, cornhole, wheelchair races, basketball, pool-noodle javelin, and nerf-gun shooting. Challengers faced off in a life-sized “Hungry Hippos” game, sweeping up balls with brooms. Even trivia and bingo winners were awarded medals. As a homage to Paris, residents sampled international wines and croissants while betting on Silver Derby Horse Races, a monthly favorite on campus.

All-Around Silver Medalist, and Vietnam US Air Force Veteran, Jack Jackson, said of the Olympics, “Being a torch bearer was an emotional experience. So many people were teary eyed.” “The games were a lot of fun!” 101-year old, Norman Smith, a WWII Air Force Veteran and chair-volleyball MVP medalist said “The competitions were a blast! I love to play volleyball- but I need to be in the front row!” Deacon Bob Heskamp, US Airforce Veteran who served in Vietnam along with his wife, Kathie, said they were “just tickled” that the Veterans were honored during the ceremony. Regarding their choice to move to Saint Ann, he enthusiastically said “Everyone is great, …we’re all family here,” and “it’s the place to be.”

Stepping onto the campus, one is instantly immersed in a loving, vibrant, culture of kindness and respect. Also known as Saint Ann Retirement Center, the assisted and independent living community is a ministry owned and operated by the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. Seniors of all faiths enjoy the community’s fun, affordable, luxurious living. They are free of long-term commitments or buy-in costs, unlike other campuses of this caliber. Families, friends, and pets join in lively social gatherings. Giggles of grandkids often fill the children’s play areas. From top-notch entertainment and Chef Lori’s delicious full-service dining to concierge and housekeeping services, Saint Ann makes elevated living attainable. Lauren Montiero, Campus Life Enrichment Director, said: “Whether being honored for military service or being driven to doctor appointments in a limousine, our residents stand a bit taller, hold their heads a bit higher, and feel the respect and dignity they so deserve. Saint Ann Assisted and Independent Living is located at 7501 W. Britton Road in north Oklahoma City.
… story and photos by Joyce Clark

Neal Fisher, age 63, is content to let today’s servicemen and women defend our nation. After all, he has already done his part. He gave the U.S. Army and Air Force 22 years of his life, deploying to Iraq twice during Operation Iraqi Freedom and to Saudi Arabia once for Operation Enduring Freedom.

Today, Fisher and his wife of 30 years, Debra, live in Quinton, Oklahoma, and they and their son, Gunnar, often volunteer at local VFWs and DAVs. Fisher used his mechanical and welding skills to rebuild a 1942 Ford General Purpose Willys jeep, which he proudly drives in veteran parades.

Duty Calls

Was he nervous about deploying to Iraq? No. “I wanted to serve my country…I was trying to do a job, this big job to work on vehicles and recover vehicles and do metal fabrication…I didn’t worry about being shot at.”

First Deployment to Iraq

Fisher deployed to Camp Taji, 20 miles north of Baghdad, from January 17, 2005, to December 31, 2005. He served with the 637th Maintenance Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Stewart, Georgia. Coalition forces invaded Iraq on March 19, 2003, and when major military combat actions ended on May 1st, 2003, they occupied Iraq.

Keeping the Army Rolling

“We (16-person mechanic team) worked as welders, fabricators. We’d go to vehicles that were blown up and cutting the up-armored off of, like tanks and MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambushed Protected) vehicles, and tracks, and putting them up on HMMWV (High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles) because they were soft skin vehicles.”

As he described long days in the motor pool, Fisher’s voice quickened and his hands gestured. His passion for repairing machinery was obvious.

The team also worked on the Family of Light and Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTVs), which are 2.5-ton and 5-ton cargo trucks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and Abrams tanks. If the Army drove it, Fisher’s team could repair it.

Field work “was hot, humid, sticky weather. In the summertime, we got up to 140 (degrees).” Mortars occasionally exploded.

“They’d also wake me up in the middle of the night because I was a journeyman heavy duty welder, and they’d have me repairing equipment that was just brought in at 12 o’clock at night. It had to be up to 100% standard grade to support the soldiers in the field that needed it immediately.”

Any additional duty? “Sometimes they’d have me on guard tower work (sentry) around the FOB (Forward Operating Base) and they’d have me drive that FMTV truck, and I dropped all the soldiers off and there was like 10 towers.”

When his unit returned to Fort Stewart, he received orders to Fort Carson, Colorado.

Back to Iraq

Although Fisher spent nine months at Fort Carson with the 2nd Infantry Division before deploying again, “We were out in the field every month for three weeks. And I never got to spend any time with my family when I was there at Fort Carson because we were training to go back to Iraq.”

On October 6, 2006, Fisher deployed again – this time to Camp Rusty Meyer (Camp Rustamiyah), near Sadr City, Baghdad, through December 22, 2007 – 14 months. This deployment was worse, much worse. “We called it Mortar Alley because every week we’d get shelved with motors like two or three times a day.”

One day, insurgents unloaded a hail of gunfire at the motor pool. Fisher excitedly recalled, “We were under a mortar attack. I didn’t know it. And sniper attack. I was being shot at. I was working underneath a HMMWV as a welder, fabricator on a frame. They’re up on a tall building.”

Unaware of the attack because of loud generators nearby, he continued repairing the vehicle outside. Fellow soldiers ran and took cover. Two hours later as they looked for him, Fisher emerged from underneath, unharmed. The HMMWV over him saved his life.

Other close calls followed. “We were doing PT, like I and five other soldiers, it was like 5:00, 6:30 in the morning roughly, you know? And we get a mortar attack. Missed us about 20 feet.” The soldiers dove into a concrete shelter, escaping injury.

Burn Pits

Deployed coalition soldiers saw, smelled and walked through the smoke from burn pits as they consumed plastic, paper, wood – anything that would burn. “The burn pits were constantly going; a constant black cloud. And that was at Camp Taji and Rusty Meyer. We basically ran PT, we welded and was breathing in the smoke from the burn pits all the time, 24 hours a day. It came into the AC, everything.”

A fun moment stands out. “I and a friend of mine went into the chow hall for Christmas dinner and Kid Rock (Robert Ritchie) was there and we just had a mortar attack that morning. And Kid Rock said he wanted to see the troops, regardless.”

The Lasting Impact of War

Returning home after a long deployment can be difficult for many veterans. “That last tour, that was pretty rough. I had a lot of anxiety when I came back. Debra added, “On edge. Fourth of July still bothers him, the smell and the sound.” Gunnar said, “After that one, no one was the same, meaning our home life was different.” All three adjusted because Debra was working and Gunnar had “became the man of the house as a young teenager.”

Debra is worried about his health. “I remember about a month ago, he had a blood clot in the lung. And he also is fighting bladder cancer. Every four months he gets checked.” Those could be a result of the burn pits. Since Fisher has a 100% rating from the DAV, they haven’t filed a claim for that.

Fisher enlisted in August 1986 and served 10 active duty years in the Army, seven years in the Army National Guard, and five years in the Air Force Reserve (activated for a year after 9-11). He retired with the rank of E-4 Specialist in 2010. His decorations include two Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star.

Serving Veterans

At the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 20 in Krebs, Oklahoma, he’s the Sergeant at Arms (also for the state), fundraises and participated in McAlester’s Armed Forces Day parade three times with the jeep. Debra is a member of the DAV’s Auxiliary as a local and state officer. Luke Armstrong, DAV Commander, said, “Neal is the perfect example of a combat veteran who is willing to volunteer his time to assist any other veterans and their families.”

Fisher also belongs to McAlester’s VFW Post 1098, where he participates in the Honor Guard and volunteers during bingo nights. Father and son participated in 2025’s Veterans Day parade in Hartshorne, Oklahoma, driving the WWII jeep and displayed military uniforms and gear in the town’s old Armory.

If you drop by the DAV or VFW, have a talk with Fisher because he enjoys discussing our military from the far past (WWII), past (Iraq), and present. Maybe he’ll tell you about being a paratrooper (Airborne!) with the 19th Special Forces Group in the Air National Guard. You’ll have an interesting talk reminiscing with this combat veteran who answered the call to duty. •

story and photos by Lt Col Richard Stephens, Jr., USAFR, Ret.

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)

Wreaths Across America

A mix of long rifles, muskets and pistols fired together at the Post Cemetery on December 20 – not in anger, but in honor of veterans – during the nationally held Wreaths Across America Ceremony. It was sponsored by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

Once 60 visitors assembled at the Post Cemetery, Leslie Dietrich, Regent of the Fort Reno Chapter of DAR, welcomed everybody and asked for the Colors to be posted. Allegiance was given to our flag, followed by a prayer of remembrance for deceased veterans.

Dietrich said the group lays wreaths “to remember, honor and teach about those who served in the military and protected our freedoms…and teach the next generation the value of freedom.” Their purpose is “not to decorate graves…” but express a “symbol of honor for their (veterans) sacrifice.” The National DAR has given service to living and deceased veterans since 1890.

Attendees then picked up the green wreaths that the DAR brought and put them on veteran’s headstones while reciting their name as a way to publicly show they are not forgotten. After Dan Wilson of Wakita laid a wreath, he said, “I love to see the respect given to those who have gone before us.” German and Italian soldiers buried at the P.O.W. Cemetery did not receive wreaths.

Members of the Sons of the American Revolution and The Guthrie Gunfighters, dressed in historical period clothing, formed a line and fired three volleys. Then, Chad Kautz played a mournful Taps. The Guthrie Gunfighters’ Trail Boss, Kent Smith, said, “We come out to support the museum in a unique way to honor our veterans.”

In 2022, the Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, placed wreaths on 2.7 million veteran’s headstones at 3,702 locations in all 50 states and abroad with the help of two million volunteers and organizations providing support.

After both events, Kaufman opened the museum for individual tours and a reception, offering engaging conversation and a variety of food and beverages. She summarized the events by saying, “We are fortunate to have a cemetery that has a long period of history tied to it. With the German-Italian Memorial Service and the DAR’s Wreaths Across America service, they provide opportunities to honor servicemen buried there.”

“To be killed in war is not the worst that can happen. To be lost is not the worst that can happen…….to be forgotten is the worst.” Piere Claeyssens (1909-2003). •