by Mark Miller, Chaplain

My name is Mark Miller. I have been in ministry for over 30 years, served as a Hospice Chaplain, and now serve in the Tulsa area with SYNERGY Homecare. I was privileged to be asked to write a short devotional for The Veterans News Magazine. The word that continued to come to me when thinking of our committed men and women of our military is the word
“discipline”. Military discipline is defined as, “the prompt, willing and intelligent obedience to orders, regulations & codes of conduct, designed to ensure operational efficiency & unit cohesion under difficult conditions”. Definitely a mouth full but absolutely correct. Discipline is a necessity to succeed in most all of life’s challenges but is most recognizable under pressure. It is no less recognizable spiritually. Spiritual discipline is what enables a believer
to stand when the waves of life crash all around. Spiritual disciplines, including Bible study, prayer, fasting, submission, steadfastness and rest are all necessary for spiritual growth, spiritual assurance and it’s what enables us to make a difference for the Kingdom of God.

2 Timothy 3: 16-17 reminds us of the importance of using God’s Word as a guide for this process: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Take a look at that list of spiritual disciplines again. Jesus did all of those things

Lino Roldan and Pedro Serrano met three years ago at a neighbor’s home while sharing a meal of Puerto Rican food, a cuisine representing the place they both grew up. They learned they were both veterans and also had a shared love of Volkswagen Beetles.They each currently own 1966 models, with Roldan’s being red and Serrano’s being blue.
I spoke with them at a car show in Tulsa where their classic cars stood side by side, showing off the pride they care for them with to preserve their nostalgic status.
Prior to their first meeting Serrano had not attended a car show, however Roldan encouraged him to do so and at his first show he won his first award: The Top 2 in class!

Roldan and Serrano are both career veterans that were raised in Puerto Rico. They are also bilingual which they used during
their time in service. Roldan worked for the Red Cross at the Armed Forces Emergency Center at Fort Sill service members who had been injured or killed.
Serranno served ten years in Panama and half of his career in Latin America supporting military missions, including the take down of General Manuel Noriega during Operation Just Cause in 1989.
Roldan was drafted in 1969 serving one year in Vietnam with the 25th ID and 173rd Airborne. He left service in 1971 and then
re-enlisted in 1978. He spent time in Italy and Germany and served during Desert Storm, retiring in 1995 as a Sergeant First Class. His father served in the National Guard from his native Puerto Rico, however his inspiration to serve in the military came from an uncle who was a POW during the Korean conflict. After his retirement he worked as a Brigade Family Coordinator at Fort Sill. In addition to his love for VW’s, Roldan is a digital creator and has hosted a radio show since 1991. His bilingual show highlights Hispanic culture and his love of latin music.
On a quarterly basis, the show focuses on veterans issues with “veteran to veteran” talk for two hours, fielding questions related
to service and benefits.
Serrano retired from the Air Force as a Master Sergeant after serving from 1981 to 2001. He was the first person in his family to join the military. His son followed in his footsteps serving in the Army. In the military he worked in communications and transferred those skills into his civilian career working for defense contractors on VIP and executive fleets, including Air Force One. He ended up in Tulsa because of the oil and gas industry where he retired as a Chief Information Security Officer.
Serrano’s love of VW’s started in his youth. He learned how to drive in a 1964 four-on-the floor model and owned a 1969 in his college years.
Roldan’s love for them started before he deployed to Vietnam. His father had a 1967 which is how he learned to work on them. After leaving the Army in 1971, he attended school as a tool and die maker and then bought a VW van. He had his own welding shop at home and started working on them regularly.
While serving in Italy and Germany he bought and sold them as a hobby. He says working on VW’s is easy and has helped him with his PTSD. Serrano agrees that it is a form of therapy for both of them.
Because they are neighbors, they get together often to work on their VW’s and naturally talk about veteran issues.
Both gentlemen are regular volunteers at the Tulsa VA, greeting and directing veterans.
Serrano suggests if you have a friend that served in the military and is not registered with the VA, take them with you next time you go. He recalls doing this with a friend a number of years ago – someone who felt hopeless and had not registered. He was eventually approved for 100 percent service connection and went on to start Vet Chat, a veteran support network rooted in faith and fellowship that has helped and/or saved hundreds of veterans by providing support and resources. Roldan states the basis for what he does for veterans is rooted in following Christ; never saying no or impossible, recognizing there are no closed doors and helping others.

These two gentlemen stand side by side at car shows and in helping veterans, selflessly giving back in the name of brotherhood and service.
You can listen to Roldan’s radio show at www.brisatropical.com

•by Jill Stephenson, staff writer

Memorial High School’s Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (JROTC) program in Tulsa is currently being administered by two storied veterans.1SG James Wilcoxson entered the program one year after the program began in 1995. As a class of 2000 graduate, he enlisted in the Army in November of the same year and served twenty-three years in the Reserves. He was a Dual Status Military Technician. He worked as a federal civilian supporting his Army Reserve Unit as a Reserve Administrator. His service also included one deployment to Afghanistan. Knowing Wilcoxson had deep and meaningful ties to the program, CSM Kenneth Powell, one of the founders, asked Wilcoxson to apply for his position in May of 2023 because he was retiring. 1SG Wilcoxson has applied for the army instructor position and is awaiting approval from the US Army Cadet Command.
LTC Paul Jackson served twenty-eight years with the United States Army Reserve, including two deployments during Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. Both of his parents also served in the Army. Jackson said he always wanted to be an officer and entered the ROTC program at Kentucky State University, receiving his commission in May of 1989. He had a dual career, working in the oil and gas industry for twenty-five years while simultaneously serving in the army reserves. With a degree in mathematics, he began teaching geometry in 2024. However, when an opportunity arose to become a JROTC instructor, he jumped at the chance. His combination of military, civilian and ROTC experiences made him an ideal fit for the role of senior army instructor where he can share the wisdom he learned in the military with his cadets.
Steve Sibley, the co-publisher of Oklahoma Veteran News, is a 1974 graduate of Memorial High School. He joined the military immediately following his graduation and served for thirty-six years. He admitted he didn’t realize the significance of the school’s name until he returned for his fifty-year reunion in 2024.
Memorial High School was named as a memorial to Tulsa students and teachers who served as veterans in World War I, World War II, and the Korean Conflict, embodying values of character, equity, and excellence in honor of their sacrifice. The school was established in 1962 with its first graduating class in 1964.
Although this program has a strong heritage and tradition, it recently has had its struggles. The sudden death of COL Gregory Barack, former senior army instructor in 2004, and retirement of CSM Powell left the program without leaders for approximately two years. Jackson and Wilcoxson are both committed to rebuilding and increasing cadet enrollment and participation. Jackson cited the current freshman class as the building blocks to the future. Their success will help them recruit more students. Additionally, visits to local middle schools and parent conferences are avenues for program recruitment. The team is also looking into expanding the program curriculum to include drones, robotics and cybersecurity.
While JROTC is an Army training program, its purpose is not military recruitment. Its mission is, “To motivate young people to be better citizens.” Established by Congress in 1916, it is the oldest youth leadership program with a presence in more than 1700 high schools nationwide.
The program also follows the Army acronym of LDRSHIP which stands for Leadership, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage.
Jackson and Wilcoxson credit their participation in JROTC as a positive influence that helped teach them the skills they needed to succeed in both civilian and military careers. Both embody these qualities today and bring many years of wisdom and knowledge to the students they are teaching. Jackson stated that being the senior instructor is more about running a program than simply teaching a class. He is responsible for making sure the curriculum includes ethics and skills that are tangible. Some of those responsibilities include making certain the cadets meet mandatory requirements of community service, attendance at the veteran’s day parade, the annual military ball and the weekly wearing of the JROTC uniform.
The JROTC hosts an annual gala. It is for the cadets only; parents are not invited. It is an opportunity for them to showcase the skills they have learned throughout the year. It is held on a Saturday in April at a local restaurant. This year’s guest speaker will be Steve Sibley. As a program alumnus, he is looking forward to sharing his wisdom and passion for the military with the cadets.
If anyone is interested in donating to the JROTC program, you can mail checks designated to the program to Tulsa Memorial High School, 5840 South Hudson Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74135.
by Jill Stephenson, staff writer

The Cleveland County OHCE Craft Show will take place May 8-9, 2026, at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds in Norman, Oklahoma. Sponsored by Cleveland County OHCE, this event brings together talented local artisans and crafters for a weekend of shopping, creativity, and community engagement.
The event will feature up to 50 vendor booths showcasing a wide variety of handmade goods, including crafts, home décor, gifts, and more. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet local creators and explore unique, one-of-a-kind items.
The craft show is open to the public with free admission, making it an accessible and family-friendly outing. A concession stand will also be available on-site.
Organizers invite the community to come out and support local vendors while enjoying a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere. Whether searching for special gifts or simply wanting to experience local craftsmanship, the Cleveland County OHCE Craft Show offers something for everyone.
Who: The event will be at the Cleveland County OHCE (sponsor and host) May 8-9 at the Cleveland County Fairgrounds, 615 E Robinson St, Norman, OK 73071 and admission is FREE.
For more information, contact (405) 627-4370 or email [email protected] . Event details can also be found on Cleveland County Oklahoma Home and Community Education Facebook page.

“I felt like I would be a failure if I got sent home and
didn’t complete basic (training)…I wanted to get the
benefits that the recruiting sergeant had told me about.
I wanna hang in for that. I was focused,” recalled Martha Louise Higgins, using a determined voice.
Born on January 15, 1931, in Clearwater, Florida, Higgins, now 95 years old, reflected on her military and civil service employment. Her enlistment occurred during the Korean War when only one-percent of Airmen were women.
Higgins gained knowledge and tenacity from teachers at her segregated elementary school, St. Matthew Baptist Church, and Pinellas High School in Clearwater, Florida. “I think growing up in Florida, they put a lot of confidence in us. That’s why it didn’t bother me going into the military. They had us thinking we could do anything we wanted to do. And we believed that…Because they knew what we were gonna be up against once we came outta high school.”
She graduated from high school in 1949, attended Florida A&M in Tallahassee for one year as a music major, then joined the Air Force.
Basic training
Basic military training was at Kelly Air Force Base (AFB), San Antonio, Texas. She remembered, “We had inspection every morning…we had to be in formation zero five hundred (5:00
a.m.). They didn’t play…You better time yourself… And there,
a lot of girls, they sent them crybabies home,” she said with emphasis. “You went to formation and…when they start roll call, there was a new girl on your right and maybe a new girl on your left…The sergeant would march us to breakfast. And after breakfast you had to go back to your quarters and get set up for inspection…” Lessons in discipline, time management and teamwork shaped her later service.
Preparing Military Pay
After basic training, Higgins transferred to Ent AFB, Colorado (closed in 1976), as a Disbursement Officer in the Finance Office. She explained the importance of pay accuracy. “We had a cutoff date to get our payroll ready because they knew when was payday. So, we couldn’t post anything on the cards (everything was done by hand) until you got it from personnel.”
Enlisted and officers had separate cards, each about 8” by 10,” organized by alphabet and by rank. Higgins remembers managing letters A through H.
She was the only female of the five Airmen in payroll.
She does not remember instances of sexism or prejustice; she just focused on the job. “They were very nice to me…They
just treated me like I was another Airman…You do your job and you’re rewarded for that…I wanted to get an honorable discharge.”
At Ent, she met and married Harvey Higgins of Luther, Oklahoma, on September 12th, 1953. She did not reenlist. Then Harvey, an active duty Airman, got a remote assignment and Martha went home to Clearwater.
Upon his return, and Martha now a military dependent, they were reassigned to Ent AFB, then Lockbourne AFB, Columbus, Ohio (closed in 1984). That’s where Steven and Timothy, two of her three sons, were born. Harvey’s next assignment took them to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, in October 1964, near Adana.
Overseas Duty
Martha liked working, so she joined civil service as an intelligence coder during the Cold War. She worked in a rundown building. “I had to have a code to get in…And
then I sat at a teletype machine. But I sent out codes all day…They were classified. They cleared me to do that…I couldn’t decipher them…I didn’t know where they were going or who they were going to or what the information (was).”
The Higgins lived on the air base and went to the movies, the NCO Club and recreation center. To reduce their isolation, they drove to the Mediterranean Sea looking for Navy ships and by the American Embassy. “We were looking for the flag. Oh, we saw that flag and we just clap, clap,” she said excitedly, clapping her hands together. “We just clapped for anything that reminded us of home.”
Back in the United States, though, the military’s equality did not exist in civilian society.
Inequality
“I never went to an integrated school, said Higgins. “The first time I experienced integration was when I went into
the military…It (civil rights) was needed because it was so humiliating to us to think we had to get up outta our (bus) seat after we done paid our fare…There was no dignity in that. You going to get up outta your seat to give it to some person who was a different color than you? Now that was wrong.”
Love of Music
Higgins said, “I went back to school under the GI bill
and studied music…I studied music at Mercyhurst in Erie.
It’s a Catholic university.” She also used her musical talent commercially too.
“Oh Lord, Hear my Prayer” and other religious hymns
she wrote have been sold to music producers like Sheet
Music Plus in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Impressed by her vocal abilities, the Columbus Symphony, Columbus, Ohio, and the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra, Erie, Pennsylvania, asked her to sing with the alto section.
Retirement
These days, at the Norman Veterans Center where Higgins lives, she plays the piano for chapel service and for the Knights of Columbus.
She’s proud of her three sons, Steven Higgins, who retired as an Army Lieutenant Colonel, Timothy Higgins, who repairs and installs refrigerators, and David Higgins, a retired Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer 2.
Higgins uses a walker but remains mobile. “I can do the twist and the electric slide!” she proudly exclaimed.
Would you like to watch Martha Higgins’ video with the “Making History Project” recorded August 8,
2021, by Patrick Russell, visit
https://making-history-project.com/ or scan this
QR CODE. •
story and photos by Lt Col Richard Stephens, Jr., USAFR, Ret.

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

Car enthusiasts, families, and travelers along historic Route 66 are invited to attend the Third Annual Classic Cars A-Round the Barn Car Show on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the historic Arcadia Round Barn. This fun, family-friendly event welcomes all classic cars, motorcycles, trucks, and unique vehicles to participate in a day of vintage style and community celebration at one of Oklahoma’s most iconic landmarks along Route 66.
Visitors can enjoy a full day of activities including: Classic Car Show, Round Barn Tours, Food Trucks, Live Music, Local Vendors and more surprises throughout the day
Event Schedule • 8:00 a.m. – Vehicle Registration Begins 11:00 a.m. – Judging • 1:00 p.m. – Awards Presentation
Vehicle registration is $20 per entry and will be available on the day of the show only.
The event is sponsored by the Arcadia Historical & Preservation Society and serves as an important fundraiser to support the preservation and maintenance of the historic Round Barn. The Arcadia Round Barn is maintained by the society as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and all proceeds from the car show directly support the care and upkeep of this beloved landmark.
“The Round Barn has welcomed travelers and the local community for generations,” organizers say. “Events like this help ensure the barn continues to stand proudly along Route 66 for years to come.”

U.S. Air Force Veteran and martial arts icon and “Walker, Texas Ranger” star died on March 19, 2026, at the age of 86 in Kauai, Hawaii.

The Oklahoma State House of Representatives passed a resolution honoring actor and Oklahoma Native Chuck Norris and the bill (HCR 1021) moves to the state Senate for further consideration. The bill was authored by State Rep. Stacy Jo Adams, R-Duncan and Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, is the bills Senate author. The bill formally recognizes Norris for humble beginnings to international fame.

Born Carlos Ray Norris Jr. in 1940, in Ryan, OK before moving to Torrance, California with his family at age 12. Chuck Norris didn’t begin life as a larger-than-life icon. He grew up shy and unassuming, far from the fearless persona he would later embody. After joining the United States Air Force, he was stationed in South Korea, where he first encountered martial arts. What began as curiosity quickly turned into obsession. Norris trained relentlessly, eventually earning black belts in multiple disciplines and becoming a world champion in karate.

His fighting career alone would have been enough to secure his place in history. Norris dominated tournament circuits in the 1960s, defeating top competitors and earning respect for his precision, speed, and discipline. But his ambitions extended beyond the mat. He saw potential in bringing martial arts to a wider audience, and that vision led him into Hollywood.

Norris’s film career began modestly, but his big break came when he fought Bruce Lee in the film Way of the Dragon. The fight scene, set in the Roman Colosseum, became iconic, showcasing Norris as a credible and formidable opponent to one of the greatest martial
artists of all time. From there, he built a career as an action star throughout the 1970s and 1980s, appearing in films like Good Guys Wear Black, Lone Wolf McQuade, and the Missing in Action series.

In the 1990s, Norris found renewed fame through television with Walker, Texas Ranger. The show became a cultural staple, running for eight seasons and introducing him to a new generation of fans. As Cordell Walker, he played a Texas Ranger who combined martial arts skills with a strong sense of justice, often delivering lessons about right and wrong alongside the action.

But perhaps the most unexpected chapter of Chuck Norris’s legacy came in the age of the internet. In the mid-2000s, “Chuck Norris facts” began circulating online—short, exaggerated jokes that portrayed him as an all-powerful figure. Lines like “Chuck Norris doesn’t do push-ups; he pushes the Earth down” transformed him into a comedic legend. Rather than resist the jokes, Norris embraced them, showing a sense of humor that only strengthened his popularity.

Beyond entertainment, Norris was also been involved in philanthropy and community work. He founded programs aimed at helping young people develop discipline and confidence through martial arts training. His emphasis on character, respect, and perseverance reflects the same values that defined his career.

What makes Chuck Norris truly fascinating is the contrast between the man and the myth. In reality, he was disciplined, thoughtful, and grounded. In popular culture, he is nearly superhuman. Yet these two versions don’t conflict—they complement each other. The myth exaggerates qualities that genuinely exist: strength, resilience, and determination.

Chuck Norris remains a symbol that spans generations. Older fans remember his films and television shows, while younger audiences know him through memes and internet culture. Few individuals manage to stay relevant across such different eras, but Norris has done so effortlessly.

In the end, Chuck Norris represents more than just action movies or jokes. He embodies the idea that ordinary beginnings can lead to extraordinary impact. Whether as a martial artist, actor, or cultural icon, his legacy continues to endure—part truth, part legend, and entirely unforgettable.

The Norris faimly said “It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the sudden passing of our beloved Chuck Norris yesterday morning.