Is there a creek, stream or river near your town that is unnamed with the State of Oklahoma? Perhaps not. But stay with this story if you want to read how Captain (retired) Doyle Tampleton, a tenacious Marine Corps member (aren’t they all?) with American Legion Post 32 got a 1.5-mile-long creek that runs through Holdenville named for veterans and when the creek will be publicly commemorated.

Why name a creek anyway? To honor veterans, Tampleton said, to include Muscogee (Creek) Native Americans employed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in Holdenville from 1938-1940. He also wants “to help others understand the complexity involved, so they can name an unnamed creek.”

Creek Construction
While in high school in 1959-1960, Tampleton worked in Charlie Sims’ Grocery Store. He remembers a Native American named Harjo, a Marine veteran. “I was very impressed by all the tales he told about how this creek was built. And he was the foreman that oversaw the workers of the creek.”

Tampleton said the creek was dug with picks and shovels. Sandstone rocks were brought and dropped at one centralized point. “They made skids like pallets that traveled and they loaded these stones on these skids, and they would hitch on a mule or a horse and drag ‘em down this creek where they would concrete them in and make a channelized creek.” Backbreaking work during the Depression years for $40 a week.

About the Creek
The creek’s headwaters originate in Holdenville. It flows into Tiger Creek five miles north of the city, becomes Wewoka Creek, and finally, joins the North Canadian River.

Process Starts at a National Level
Tampleton discovered the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN), Washington D.C., approves geographic features such as creeks and mountains. The BGN sent him a 13-page application which plainly stated it may take three years to complete. “You have to have the city, the county, the state, any Native American property affected. And it all has to be related to who you wish it to be named after.”

Starting Local to get Approval
In September 2023, Tampleton’s American Legion post approved his quest. That was followed by in-person and written requests to the Holdenville City Council and Hughes County Commissioner. David Smith, State Representative House District 18, approved the request in November 2024.

Approval from the Muskogee (Creek) Nation in Okmulgee was needed because Holdenville is in their reservation. “I sent a lot of letters and on the phone talked to various parts of that nation, like the veterans, cultural and historical desks.” Result? David Hill, their Principal Chief, supported the proposal in April 2025.

State, Congressional and National Approval
Tampleton and Lou Jean, his wife, met with Senator James Langford’s staff in Tulsa. After staffers said they could help, they informed him that permission from the Oklahoma Board of Geographic Names (OBGN) was needed. Another step to complete. Cesalea Ray, Chairman of the OBGN, came to Holdenville, saw the creek and gathered more information.

Final Steps
In December 2025, the BGN approved the creek’s name. Done? Nearly. The Geographic Names and Information System (GNIS) office, a section of the BGN, needed to provide coordinates of the beginning and ending of the creek for typographical maps. This was completed in January 2026.

This February, the OGBN approved the name, Veterans Creek, in an email which read in part, “The name Tvstvnvke Hvccuce (Warrior Creek in Muscogee Creek), phonetically pronounced, Dust-Dun-Uh-Gey Huh-Jo-Jee, has been added to the GNIS with Feature ID 2833026.” State and federal approvals complete!

Public Dedication
On June 20, at 10:00 a.m. in Holdenville’s Stroup Park, officials will publicly dedicate Veterans Creek with a big celebration. The creek’s sign, “Veterans Creek” on one side and “Tvstvnvke Hvccuce” on the other, will be uncovered. Attendees will include U.S. Representative Josh Brecheen, State Senator Jonathan Winguard, David Smith, a representative from Senator Lankford’s office, Holdenville officials and veteran groups.

Tampleton’s biography
Tampleton enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1960, became a warrant officer and commissioned officer, and retired in 1985. He served in the Vietnam War south of Da Nang for 20 months and received two Purple Hearts. He was a police officer for nine years, school board representative for two years and President of the Central Oklahoma Military Officers Association of America for three years.

Captain Tampleton’s tenacity to name Holdenville’s creek for veterans, despite a two-year, five-month period that required numerous details and approvals, resulted in success. For more information, go to U.S. Board on Geographic Names. •
story and photos by Lt Col Richard Stephens, Jr., USAFR, Ret.

March 25th is designated as national Medal of Honor Day. This year Tulsa International Airport hosted an event onsite in the Albert E. Schwab Hall.

The event was formally hosted by the Marine Corp League’s Albert E. Schwab Detachment #857. Two very special guests of honor were in attendance; Medal of Honor recipient SPC5 Dwight Birdwell and Captain Joe Ihle, who was present during the second wave at Iwo Jima. At 103, he is also Oklahoma’s oldest living marine! Semper Fi! Medal of Honor Day was officially designated by Congress on March 25, 1991. The day was chosen because on that day in 1863, the first Medal of Honor was presented to Private Jacob Parrott, for his participation in Andrews’ Raiders, a Civil War mission behind enemy lines.There are three versions of the Medal of Honor; one for the Army, one for the Navy, and one for the Air
Force. Recipients in the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard receive the Navy version, and
members of the Space Force receive the Air Force version. In 1861, President Lincoln signed a bill into law that authorized the creation of the Navy Medal of Valor, and in 1862, legislation authorized a similar medal for the U.S. Army. The Air Force Medal of Honor was
signed into law in 1956.

He kept his speech short and focused on the valor of the men he served with who didn’t come home and to helping our veterans nationwide. Staying true to every MOH recipient I have had the privilege to meet, he was humble as the day is long. He is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and entered the Army on May 24, 1966. In addition to his medal of Honor, Birdwell earned two Silver Stars, a Bronze Star for meritorious service and two Purple Hearts. He received the first Silver Star for heroism on January 31, 1968, when his unit defended Tan Son Nhut Air Base during the Tet Offensive in Vietnam. This is the medal that was eventually upgraded to the MOH, which was presented to him at the White House on July 5, 2022.

Birdwell was a member of the Judicial Appeals Tribunal (Supreme Court) of the Cherokee Nation from 1987 to 1999, serving as its Chief Justice from 1995 to 1996 and 1998 to 1999.

In my attempt to interview CPT Ihle, I found him to be equally as humble as Birdwell. At 103, he is also incredibly spry and sharp. He was not interested in having any attention drawn to his service during WWII or at Iwo Jima. He told me there were more than 50,000 other men that fought in that battle and that he didn’t do anything more extraordinary than the rest. I gently reminded him that the fact that he was still alive was a reflection of the grit he still possessed that was surely present during his time of service. My grandfather, whom I loved and admired dearly, also served in WWII. There is no human alive today whose presence I am more honored to be in than a WWII veteran. I smiled and firmly shook CPT Ihle’s hand as I shared this thought with him. That made him smile too, however, I did not press him to tell me any more about himself. Being in his presence was enough of a gift.

During the ceremony, citations were read for three additional Oklahoma Medal of Honor recipients. One of them was for PFC Albert E. Schwab, (the namesake of the hall the ceremony was held in), whose medal was posthumously awarded for his valiant actions on May 7, 1945 at the Battle of Okinawa, Japan. His niece and nephew were in attendance. One of the others was for LTC Earnest Childers, a member of the Creek Nation, who earned his Medal of Honor for heroic actions on September 22, 1943, in Oliveto, Italy, during WWII. The Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Tulsa is named in his honor.
Members of the Marine Corp League’s Albert E. Schwab Detachment #857, spent the
morning of the ceremony visiting the graves of some of NE Oklahoma’s other MOH recipients. According to the Oklahoma Military Heritage Foundation and state officials, there are 36 individuals with Oklahoma connections who have earned the Medal of Honor.
They are honored with a dedicated plaque in the state Capitol from conflicts ranging from the Indian Campaigns to the Global War on Terrorism. At the time of the dedication (April 2024), no other state has an installation like it. • by Jill Stephenson, staff writer

In mid March a friend was flying into Tulsa to visit her parents. I offered to pick her up from the airport. While she was waiting to change planes in Denver, she sent me a picture of a flag draped casket being loaded or unloaded to (or from) the plane she was about to board. She did some quick research and discovered one of the most recent soldiers killed in action in support of Operation Epic Fury was stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado. This must have been him.

We were both moved by this because my son was killed in action in 2009 and was received at our home airport. My heart ached for the sacrifice this young man and his family just made. I arrived at the airport early and made the turn to wait in the cell phone lot.
As I rounded the corner I saw the parking lot was half filled with motorcycles lined up and facing the exit. My heart skipped a beat. There is only one reason for motorcycles to be lined up in an airport cell phone lot; to escort the body of a veteran or a fallen service member.

I knew this from my own experience and wondered if the casket my friend saw was the same one these motorcycles would be escorting. I parked my car, approached someone and asked why they were there. I happened to choose one of the ride captains and State Chapter Enforcer, Jack Foster, a/k/a, Wingnut, who informed me they were there to escort a fallen soldier, however, it wasn’t the young man from Ft. Carson.

It felt serendipitous that my friend and I were witness to such escorts on the same day. I shared with Jack that I was the mother of a fallen soldier and appreciated what they were doing. There were about fifty other men and women standing around the small sea
of motorcycles. Most were wearing vests with various identifying patches of which motorcycle club they belonged. Motorcycle Clubs or MC’s are often given a bad rap and thought to be associations of my own experience, I knew this was not true. I honored my son for twelve years with a fund raising event (in my home state) that included a motorcycle ride, silent auction and dinner. At my son’s homecoming, wake, funeral and at the annual fundraiser, the presence of motorcycle clubs played a significant role in the legacy of each of these events. I came to know and admire individual members and count many as friends to this day. The people I know as members of an “MC” are some of the most selfless, generous and kind people I have met. The escorts for fallen service members came to be by a non profit called the Patriot Guard Riders. The PGR is a group of all volunteer motorcycle riders (although not required) born to protect fallen soldiers from after 9/11. They are committed to making sure no one is treated in the disrespectful manner those coming home from Vietnam were.

Wingnut is a member of the American Veteran Motorcycle Club.

There are currently six chapters in Oklahoma and close to twenty in other states. He agreed that MC’s get a bad rap, while noting that his chapter participates in more than 25 events each year, many of which support veterans and veteran causes. The day after we met, the AVMC were riding in an event that supported the Claremore Veterans Center.
I asked Wingnut what being a member of AVMC meant to him. He said he felt a sense of brotherhood and camaraderie amongst people who understand and are supportive of each other. They are a “band of brothers” who have all served or are still serving, in all branches of the military. In a statement following the escort the day we met, the AVMC said “The American Veterans Motorcycle Club, Affiliates Motorcycle Club along with several other veteran motorcycle associations, had the honor of escorting Army Combat Engineer Tanner Keagan Gene Hodges home to Miami, Oklahoma. It was a solemn privilege for the AVMC to stand in support of a fellow service member and his family to ensure he was escorted home with the respect and honor he earned through his service.”

The fallen service member from Ft.Carson was SGT Benjamin Pennington.
May they both rest in peace. That kind of honor and respect comes from more than just a motorcycle club. • by Jill Stephenson, staff writer

Multiple news outlets reported an E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft was damaged or destroyed between March 27-29, 2026, at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia. The likely cause was Iranian missiles and/or drones, according to Air and Space Forces Magazine, Microsoft Network (MSN), The Defense News and others. Images confirmed significant structural damage, including to the rear fuselage.

A request was sent to USCENTCOM for information on whether an E-3 was damaged and if any U.S. military or civilians were hurt in the attack but no response was received by presstime. As of April 25, 2026, nothing on the subject is posted on their website. Not providing information like this is routine for operational security reasons to deny enemies useful information.

A March 28 Air and Space Forces (AFA) news release stated, “The attack injured more than 10 service members, two seriously. Among the other planes damaged are aerial refueling tankers… The image appears to show one of the E-3s stationed at the Saudi base, based on runway signage and aircraft markings. Six E-3s had been stationed at Prince Sultan Air Base before the incident, according to open-source flight tracking data.”

A MSN.com report from April 4 said, “The strike also damaged at least two US refueling aircraft and wounded 12 personnel, two seriously…With only 16 operational aircraft and a mission-capable rate of about 56%, the fleet is already under strain. Experts warn the loss will hamper the Air Force’s ability to manage battlefields, deconflict airspace, and deliver coordinated effects in ongoing operations.”

The AWACS aircraft are critical components of the Joint Force Air Component Commander’s arsenal during combat operations like Operation Epic Fury. The Air Force has flown AWACS planes since the late 1970s to provide command and control and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. They were used extensively in Operation Desert Storm, the Kosovo war, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for Operation Inherent Resolve.
“The loss of this E-3 is incredibly problematic, given how crucial these battle managers are to everything from airspace deconfliction, aircraft deconfliction, targeting, and providing other lethal effects that the entire force needs for the battle space,” said Heather Penney for the AFA Magazine. She is a former F-16 pilot and director of studies and research at AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. “The value of the E-3 and the battle managers is they see the big picture,” Penney said. “They’re the chessmaster, while [fighter pilots] are the bishops.”

Lee McCullum, a former 552nd Air Control Wing (552 ACW) radio operator for the AWACS and VFW Post 7192 member, said, “I don’t think we planned it right. We did know that Iran was going to hit the neighboring places, states, or whatever. I wish they would move to E3 back somewhere (perhaps) Aviana, Italy.” His hopes and prayers go out to the members and families affected. Veterans of Operation Desert Storm remember Iraq fired numerous SCUD missiles at military installations in Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh. History repeated.
The MSN.com article also stated, “Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky alleged that Russian satellites photographed the Saudi base multiple times in the week before the attack and shared the imagery with Iran. He argued this pattern indicated deliberate targeting preparation, though NBC noted no direct evidence was provided.”

The 552 ACW operates E-3s at Tinker AFB. The wing reports to 15th Air Force headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, SC. According to an USAF Fact Sheet posted online, the wing consists of four subordinate units: the 552nd Operations Group, the 552nd Maintenance Group, the 552nd Air Control Group, and the 552nd Training Group. “The 552nd Maintenance Group directs logistics support of 27 E-3 AWACS aircraft (several news outlets state there are 16 aircraft in the inventory) valued at $9.2 billion. The
group supports all E-3 sorties enabling aircrews to fly 20,500 hours annually from numerous locations world-wide.”

A USCENTCOM fact sheet dated April 1 states more than 13,000 combat flights have been flown (jet, helicopter, drone, etc.) and 12,300 targets struck and 155 or more Iranian
vessels damaged or sunk.

For more information about Operation Epic Fury, go to www.airandspaceforces.com and major news sources. • Story by Lt. Col. Richard Stephens, Jr., USAFR, Ret. website: Rich Travel Niche

story by Darl Devault, contributing editor

For the statewide free Oklahoma Veterans News Magazine to receive a Senate Citation of Recognition after just one year in print serves as powerful validation of its role in bridging the gap between state resources and the Veterans it serves.
Such recognition highlights the magazine’s value as a statewide communication
tool that unifies a community of over 300,000 Veterans.
Co-publishers Steve Eldridge and Veteran Steve Sibley worked together on
its creation for more than a year leading up to the publication’s first issue in May
2025.
This official validation of impact from State Senator Brenda Stanley (R-Midwest
City), who chairs the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, designates the
publication as a trusted source of information for the state’s military community.
This legislative commendation reinforces the magazine’s role as a “vital part of
the state’s identity,” officially acknowledging its mission to pay tribute to the service
and sacrifice of Oklahoma Veterans and their families.
All of this is because the magazine is attempting to help many Veterans who
are unaware of available benefits, such as sales tax exemptions. A recognized
statewide magazine acts as a critical partner in disseminating this essential
information and updates on benefits, services, and new laws, such as the PACT Act
and state-specific tax exemptions.
It also serves as a platform to raise awareness of Veterans-owned businesses
and encourage “patriotic Oklahomans” to support them.
The platform also promotes storytelling and community engagement. It helps
preserve the patriotic legacy by sharing stories of Veterans’ achievements. It
chronicles their sacrifice, fostering a sense of belonging and “collective pride”
across the state.
Its outreach for isolated Veterans continues to expand with over 600 distribution
points-including VFWs, American Legion posts, and VA clinics. This magazine
reaches Veterans who may not have easy access to digital information, partnering
with the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) to feature leadership
and highlight state-run programs and ceremonies.
The content of the document follows:
THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA
Citation of Recognition
EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE OKLAHOMA VETERAN NEWS MAGAZINE;
COMMENDING ITS LEADERSHIP; AND DIRECTING DISTRIBUTION.
WHEREAS, Senator Brenda Stanley, Chair of the Senate Veterans and Military
Affairs Committee, proudly supports the mission of the Oklahoma Veteran News Magazine, the first statewide monthly free publication dedicated to serving Oklahoma’s veterans, active-duty service members, and their families; and
WHEREAS, the magazine marks one year in print, reflecting its continued commitment to
informing, connecting and honoring those who have taken the oath to defend the United States;
and
WHEREAS, Oklahoma is home to major installations, including Altus Air Force Base, Fort Sill, McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, Tinker Air Force Base, and Vance Air Force Base, which play a vital role in national defense and serve as key economic drivers; and
WHEREAS, the Oklahoma Veteran News Magazine strengthens the military community by
sharing important information, connecting veterans to resources, and promoting awareness, respect, and appreciation for their service; and
WHEREAS, the Oklahoma Senate recognizes the importance of ensuring veterans and their
families have access to timely, accurate information and honors the service and sacrifice of those who have defended our freedoms;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE 60TH OKLAHOMA
LEGISLATURE:
THAT the Oklahoma Senate expresses its support for the Oklahoma Veteran News Magazine
and its mission to serve Oklahoma’s military and veteran community, and THAT co-publishers Steve Eldridge and Veteran Steve Sibley are commended for exemplifying
the spirit of “The Oklahoma Standard” through their dedication to veterans’ affairs and community service; and
THAT a copy of this resolution be distributed to
Steve Eldridge and Steve Sibley.
Signed April 22, 2026: Senator Brenda Stanley
Senate District 42

This issue represents our 1st anniversary edition! Twelve issues and still growing and changing to publish the best magazine each month. We can’t provide these things without our readers like you and sponsors.

The continued success of Oklahoma Veteran News Magazine depends on a strong, connected community—and that includes you. We encourage every reader to take a moment to support the businesses and organizations featured in this publication. These sponsors make it possible to share important stories, resources, and updates that serve veterans across our state. By choosing to do business with them, you’re directly helping sustain a platform dedicated to honoring and supporting those who have served.

If you find value in this magazine, consider spreading the word. Recommend Oklahoma Veteran News Magazine to local businesses, organizations, and community leaders who may benefit from reaching a veteran-focused audience. When more businesses step forward to advertise and partner with us, it strengthens our ability to grow, improve, and expand the content we provide.

This publication is more than just a magazine—it’s a voice for Oklahoma’s veteran community. It highlights achievements, addresses challenges, and connects individuals to vital resources. That kind of impact requires ongoing support from both readers and sponsors alike.

Your actions matter. Supporting our sponsors and introducing new ones ensures that this magazine continues to thrive and serve future generations of veterans. Together, we can keep this important resource strong, relevant, and available to all who need it.

As always, We encourage you to give us a call or send us an email and let us know how we are doing and how we can improve. Oklahoma Veteran News is published for you.
Sincerely,
Steve Eldridge and Steve Sibley

Story by Darl Devault, contributing editor

Oklahomans are invited to join Veterans May 14-17 at Mitch Park in Edmond to experience The Wall That Heals, a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. This traveling wall honors the men and women who gave their lives in Vietnam or later died as a result of their service.
“I often enjoy walking in Mitch Park. Having the Wall that Heals there will remind me of the friends I lost during the war and the human cost of the war,” said retired Air Force Col. Chuck DeBellevue. “This will create a sacred and solemn place that helps bring a calmness to the memories of my kind and Vietnam Veterans and their families.”
DeBellevue, 80, retired to Edmond in 1998 after a distinguished 30-year military career and has since been an active speaker to members of the local and veteran communities. His story as the highly decorated last American air ace on active duty, with six aerial victories in 1972 in an F-4 Phantom
II above North Vietnam, is a source of patriotic pride and inspiration for all who hear it.
The Edmond VFW Post 4938 is hosting The Wall That Heals and is recruiting volunteers to assemble it. Through volunteer support, community partnerships, and public engagement, they invite everyone to take part in this shared act of remembrance.
The Mitch Park exhibit spans 375 feet in length and rises to 7.5 feet at
its apex, constructed of Avonite, a durable synthetic granite. It features 140 numbered panels supported by an aluminum frame.
Modern LED lighting illuminates the memorial so names can be read clearly both day and night. Visitors are welcome to do name rubbings of individual service members as a meaningful and personal way to honor those listed.
The Wall’s 140 panels contain the names of more than 58,000 Vietnam service members, 990 of whom are Oklahomans, ensuring accuracy and consistency with the original Memorial.
In addition to open viewing of The Wall, several special ceremonies and community events will take place during the four days. These moments honor specific groups, recognize service, and provide opportunities for reflection and remembrance.
May 14 – 9 a.m. Native American Vietnam Service Recognition Ceremony A ceremony honoring the service and sacrifice of Native American veterans and their Nations who served during the Vietnam War.
May 14 – 6 p.m. Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Ceremony
A long-overdue welcome home for Vietnam veterans, recognizing their service, sacrifice, and dedication.
May 15 – 6 p.m. HMONG SGU Recognition Ceremony
Honoring the Hmong Special Guerrilla Units who served alongside U.S. forces during the Vietnam War.

May 16 – 9 p.m. Light Up the Night – Oklahoma County MIA Tribute
A powerful evening tribute honoring the more than 100 Missing in Action service members from Oklahoma County during the Vietnam War. This ceremony will illuminate The Wall in remembrance of those who have not yet come home.
While traveling, the Walls That Heal are more accessible to many Oklahomans, highlighting their significance and encouraging community engagement. Oklahoma is graced with a permanent replica 80% the size of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., dedicated on Veterans Day 2013 in Enid. This replica was retired to Enid after traveling the country, measuring 380 feet long and 8 feet high at its tallest point, and made of anodized aluminum.
Gov. Mary Fallin proclaimed it Oklahoma’s Official Vietnam War Memorial. The memorial reminds patriots that freedom is not free, is open to the public and free of charge from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. year-round, encouraging ongoing engagement and respect.
The Wall stands at Woodring Regional Airport. “It is a somber reminder of those who gave their lives so we can live in freedom, and a tribute to honor our men and women who are serving or have served in the military,” said Gov. Fallin in 2013 at its dedication.
The Living Walls, located across the street from the Vietnam War Memorial in Enid, honor and remember our military heroes. It is dedicated to Oklahoma veterans, active duty, retired, MIA, those killed while serving, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice, fostering pride and respect among visitors.
Just west of the site is the M.L. Becker Educational Center, a collection of permanent and temporary exhibits featuring patriotic, military and war-related memorabilia. The center won a 2019 Oklahoma Museums Association award for Education and Outreach. The center is open by appointment only for student groups, except on Vietnam Veterans Day and Memorial Days, when it is open all day.
Vietnam Veterans have been the focus of a groundswell of recognition over the past 14 years as the U.S. government has executed a sustained, multi-administration effort to provide “overdue recognition” to Vietnam-era Veterans.
The 50th Anniversary Commemoration
(2012-2025), authorized by Congress and launched in 2012, was designed to thank and honor the 9 million Americans who served on active duty between November 1, 1955, and May 15, 1975.
This congressional mandate’s primary objective was to “right a wrong” for Veterans who were often ignored or mistreated upon their initial return home.
In reaction to this effort, more than 11,000 local, state, and national organizations, such as the VFW, have partnered with the Department of Defense to host thousands of community-based events.
The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 codified the nation’s commitment to Vietnam Veterans by establishing March 29 as National Vietnam War Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Washington, D.C. Veterans Day.

That date was chosen because it marks the anniversary of when the last U.S. combat troops departed Vietnam, and the last prisoners of war were released in 1973. The act added March 29 to the list of days on which the U.S. flag should be specifically
displayed to honor these Veterans.
A central feature of the 50th-anniversary efforts has been the distribution of Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pins in formal ceremonies as a “Token of Gratitude”: These pins, featuring the message “A Grateful Nation Thanks and Honors You,” were presented at public ceremonies to provide a “welcome home” that many never received. Since 2012, more than 3 million. Veterans have been publicly thanked at more than 21,000 ceremonies.
Most importantly, recognition has also shifted toward addressing the long-term physical toll of the war with expanded health research and benefits.
The VA launched the Vietnam Era Health Retrospective Observational Study in 2016, the most comprehensive health assessment of this Veteran group since the 1980s, focusing on the impacts of Agent Orange and PTSD. And most recently, the new PACT Act integration at the VA in recent years has been offering toxic exposure screenings and expanded healthcare enrollment specifically for Vietnam-era Veterans.

Aviation Electronics Technician 2nd Class Lakota Lancaster grew up far from the ocean in rural Okmulgee, Oklahoma, but now his work supports U.S. Navy missions and protects American interests worldwide.
From a young age, Lancaster developed an interest in aircraft and aviation. After graduating from Preston High School in 2021, he enlisted in the Navy and was assigned to Patrol Squadron (VP) 45, a maritime patrol squadron based at Naval Air Station Jacksonville.
Known as the “Pelicans,” the squadron operates the P-8A Poseidon. As an aviation electronics technician, Lancaster maintains and repairs electronic systems on the aircraft. His work supports missions such as anti-surface warfare, intelligence gathering, surveillance, and search-and-rescue operations that rely on the aircraft’s radar, communication, and sensor systems.
One of Lancaster’s favorite parts of the Navy is the opportunity to travel.
“You get to go everywhere,” said Lancaster. “It doesn’t matter if you’re on a fixed-wing platform or a boat.”
During Lancaster’s time in the U.S. Navy, he traveled to seven countries, collaborating with allied partners during exercises such as Sea Dragon 2026 in Guam. Lancaster plans to continue serving and hopes to advance through the enlisted ranks with the goal of becoming a master chief petty officer.
Sea Dragon is a U.S.-led, multinational exercise designed to train anti-submarine warfare tactics and to operate together in response to maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.

Across the country, state and local governments, nonprofits, certain tribes and other community organizations are going to share in a $112 million grant program for their work in veterans suicide prevention. The Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program (also known as SSG Fox SPGP) promotes outreach to identify veterans at risk, clinical services for emergency treatment, case management, baseline screening, education, peer support, help with connecting with benefits and more. Help can also be in the form of temporary income support, legal services, child care, financial counseling and fiduciary help.

And it works: Over 90% of veterans who got these services reported improvements in their mental health and well-being.

The grant organizations will work with local VA medical centers to verify that the individual is a veteran, has some risk factors (such as traumatic brain injury, recent loss, homelessness or history of abuse) and has been assessed as to the degree of risk of suicide.

Veteran suicide stats are, as they always have been, grim to consider. The national suicide report for 2025 says that the number of suicides have decreased (for 2023, the last year numbers were available). Specifically, 2023 had 44 fewer veteran suicides than in 2022. The report calls that an “encouraging” result — even though the number for 2023 was a whopping 6,398 veterans.

In an analysis of the stats, 61% of those veterans were not getting VA health care. The group most affected were veterans ages 18 to 34 with risk factors of homelessness, health problems and pain, with pain being the biggest risk factor.
\

To learn all the details about the SSG Fox SPGP grant program, see www.mentalhealth.va.gov/ssgfox-grants/docs/SSG-Fox-SPGP-Program-Guide-508.pdf.

If you (or a veteran you know) are at risk for suicide, call the VA crisis hotline at 988, then press 1. That’s all you need to dial. Or text to 838255. Or go online to chat at
www.veteranscrisisline.net. Somebody is there 24/7. It’s free and confidential, and you don’t have to be enrolled in VA health care or benefits.
(c) 2026 King Features Synd., Inc

Jason Young has long had a passion for music and has turned that passion into helping seniors and Veterans.
Young, who serves as marketing director for SYNERGY HomeCare in Oklahoma City/Tulsa, got his musical start with Ty England, who played for Garth Brooks.
“I was a tour manager, and I worked for guys like Chad Brock and Cledus T. Judd and Aaron Tippin. I toured for about 14 years with bands like Confederate Railroad and worked with Charlie Daniels and people like that,” Young said.
Young was born in Edmond. He currently resides in Yukon.
He started his musical career working for Nashville recording artists Ty England, Chad Brock, and Cledus T Judd. Young formed the Jason Young Band in 2009.
He has released 5 singles to Texas Radio “Long Way Home” – “The Moment” – “Under My Skin” – “Vinyl”-
“POOR” all charted in the Texas Radio Top 30. Since 2017 the single “Long Way Home” was used in the movie
An Evergreen Christmas (IMDB Credited). Their single “Crank It Up” was used in the Amazon movie Shut Up Anthony, (IMDB Credited).
In 2020, Jason Young, along with Cross Canadian Ragweed’s Grady Cross and Randy Ragsdale, formed Cross Rags And Young. Their first single “Family Name” spent 35 weeks on the Texas Charts, 12 weeks in the top ten and 5 weeks at No.3.
Their second single “Reckless” was their first #1 single on Texas Radio and spent more than 30 weeks on the chart. Cross Rags and Young were nominated for Best New Group from Texas Regional Radio and performed along with presenting at the Texas Regional Radio Music. In 2023 Jason became 1 of 5 Oklahoma Artists to represent the State Of Oklahoma Tourism Campaign Imagine.
In 2020 through 2022, Young and his wife Kerri adopted their two sons Charlie and Hudson.

“I was touring a lot and working a ranch. I wanted to be with those kids who were more important to me than this music dream I’d been chasing for 20 years,” he said. “And even though I was having some success in it, I ended up backing off. I wanted to find a real
job, and I knew I wanted to work around seniors.”
Young called a friend who worked for Physician Housecalls, and she happened to be having a networking event the next evening, so she invited him to attend.
“I didn’t even have a résumé,” he said. “I had to go home and get one together after the event, because I hadn’t had a real job in 20 years. I got five interviews that night. I met with Weama Kassem (SYNERGY Homecare owner) that next morning. It was my first interview. I was there for a couple hours. And when I left, I remember being in the parking lot, and I canceled all the other interviews. I knew that’s where I wanted to work. I knew I found a home.”
Young later took on an additional role as Veteran Advocate alongside Marketer Diane Young with SYNERGY. He went on to say, “One thing that inspired me even more was watching Weama Kassem’s love for her clients and veteran clients. She always goes out of her way for them and goes above and beyond. It’s like they are her family. Watching her and the SYNERGY team inspired me to do even more.”
“I’ve been raising money for Veterans off and on for many years and working around a lot of Veterans,” he said. “My grandfather, Tracy Titus, was a World War II Veteran, and he was always an inspiration to me. And so, I wanted to get involved even on a bigger level than what I was.”
Young said he started doing Veteran coffees at local American Legions though the state and was later invited to join the American Legion post in Mustang.
“I joined their group in Mustang, and at the time we were doing maybe three or four veteran coffees a month,” he said. “And one thing that was kind of itching at me was I’d be at these communities, and I would see that they didn’t do these coffees there, and a lot of these guys couldn’t get out. A lot of them were in assisted living, or independent living. They just didn’t want to or couldn’t leave the community.”
Young wanted to bring those coffee events to those communities.
He started visiting those communities and learning about their senior/Veteran residents.
“Every month, I have special guest speakers,” he said. “We did a show-and-tell that was amazing, where these Veterans bring something from their past, and they tell us their story. We’ve also done Veteran trivia about World War II and World War I, which was amazing. We are doing everything we can just to bring the Veterans together.”
Young said another thing they do for Veterans is present them with a challenge coin when they come on service with SYNERGY.
“So, I would give a presentation on the history of the challenge coin, then present them with their very own SYNERGY HomeCare challenge coin whenever they came on service with us,” he said. “I love seeing their faces when we give them that. I go to these events, and now I’m getting phone calls daily saying ‘Hey, my dad’s a veteran. I heard you could help.’”
Young’s next goal is to help create a local gathering space like the Coffee Bunker in Tulsa.
“I went into this place called the Coffee Bunker in Tulsa, and I was blown away. It’s all volunteer work. They’ve got VSOs. They have counselors. They deal with the homeless. They feed veterans lunch every day, donuts every morning,” he said. “They have a library. They have clothes. If you need something, they help you with it. It’s very moving when you’re there, and you’re seeing all these different Veterans come in and hang out all day long. The more I found out about this place, the more I wanted to be a part of it.”
Young has been promoting the idea for an Oklahoma City location.
“I’m excited about trying to get something like that here for our Veterans. I want to do everything I can for Veterans. For all they sacrifice and all they do for us,” he said.
. • by Van Mitchell, staff writer