Oklahoma City has been selected to host the week-long 2032 American Legion National Convention, a centennial celebration projected to bring thousands of veterans to
the metro area, generate
more than $12 million in
local economic impact, and fill approximately 17,000 hotel room nights.
The selection follows a highly competitive bidding process led by Visit Oklahoma City OKC), a division of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, with Oklahoma City ultimately chosen over finalist cities Spokane, Washington, and Reno, Nevada.
“This is an extraordinary win for our city,” said Shaun Yates, senior vice president of tourism development for Visit OKC. “What stood out most to the client throughout the site visit was not just our facilities or our proposal, it was our people.”
During a site visit that coincided with a major winter snowstorm, American Legion representatives praised the city’s hospitality, adaptability and tight-knit community collaboration, ultimately solidifying Oklahoma City as the ideal choice for the landmark centennial.
“Serving the State of Oklahoma as the American Legion Commander has had many highlights. One of the biggest being something that will be part of the Oklahoma legacy for generations to come is being the Commander that was able to assist to secure the 2032 National Convention bid,” said Steven Charles Thomas II, department commander for the American Legion Department of Oklahoma.
“I give all the credit to the amazing folks at Visit OKC, the Chamber of Commerce and all the many people within OKC who had a vital role in the site visits and the two amazing representatives Lesley and Mandy who did the in person presentation in Indianapolis to the full selection committee. Their passion for the City, knowledge of its history and strategic planning the City has done to make Oklahoma City a top tier destination is what I believe pushed us to the top. I can’t wait for all my fellow Legionnaires to come here from around the globe and see the beauty and vibrant culture of Oklahoma that we are blessed to call home every day.”
Securing this convention highlights Oklahoma City’s growing reputation as a premier destination for major national events, and the region’s entire business and hospitality community stands ready to welcome these veterans with the world-class service they deserve.

Newby-Vance Mobility (NVM), located within the John Vance Group in Guthrie, has been trusted for 30 + years to serve individuals and families with special transportation and driving-related needs.
“We are a mobility vehicle and adaptive equipment dealer. We sell, service, rent and warranty wheelchair accessible vehicles and related adaptive mobility equipment, all at a single location,” Marcus Newby, NVM’s General Manager said.
Based on the unique and individual needs of people, there is a wide continuum of specially adapted vehicles and services.
This can range from a simple steering device to an electric scooter lift installed in a vehicle, to a set of hand controls for someone to drive independently.
They also provide fully adapted wheelchair accessible vehicles that allow people in wheelchairs to independently enter and exit the vehicle; options exist for driving from a wheelchair or riding as a passenger in a wheelchair or by transferring to a seat. An evaluation of people’s needs and wants is critically important to identifying the best solutions for any given person or family.
Newby added that his goal as a mobility specialist is to sit down with customers and learn of their unique situations and challenges. From this a plan emerges that can maximize the customer’s ability to be mobile, independently or with assistance; the plan may include a specialized vehicle or a simple item of adaptive equipment. Suddenly, options open in people’s lives in areas of life such as going to school, job maintenance, getting to-from work, going to church and doctor’s appointments, or simply going shopping.
“The overall goal is to assist people and families in maintaining and improving their quality of life with work, friends and family,” he said.
Newby-Vance Mobility opened for business in January 1996.
Their story begins with two landmark federal laws: the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Education of All Handicapped Children Act of 1975. As these laws opened school doors
to students with disabilities, one critical barrier remained: transportation.
Newby said his father Dr. Jim Newby witnessed this firsthand as New Mexico’s State Director of Special Education.
“Jim spent his entire career working with children and youth with special needs in the public-school sector,” Newby said.
Newby said this was a time when families were forced to navigate a fragmented transportation service system: buying vehicles from automobile dealers, then seeking modifications elsewhere with no single point of service or accountability when things went wrong. Jim knew there had to be a better way. The integrated public school system was the model.
“The idea emerged…why can’t I go to an automobile dealership and propose the creation of an inclusive business that provides these special vehicles and services at an auto dealership?” Newby said.
Dr. Newby envisioned a fully integrated model, one that unified vehicle sales, accessibility engineering, and service support under one roof.
In 1995, he shared that vision and proposal with the multi-franchise dealer principal, Mr. John Vance, and together they founded Newby-Vance Mobility in early 1996.
Today, Newby-Vance Mobility is Oklahoma’s largest mobility dealer, now with two locations, the original “north store” in Guthrie, at 5632 S. Division Street, and the newest “south store” in Oklahoma City at 7500 South Shields Avenue.
“So, if you come to Newby-Vance Mobility within the family of John Vance Motors, and you have a unique challenge that necessitates the use a wheelchair, or walker, and you need an accessible vehicle, and/or specially adapted driving equipment, you can come here and be met and treated just like anybody else,” Newby said. “We can help you figure out how your needs can be met, whether it’s a special vehicle, or specialized equipment. Before you spend your hard-earned money, we can tell you whether a particular vehicle, or equipment, is compatible with your needs or not. We can help you get an idea of your needs and help you purchase the vehicle and the equipment, everything all at a single location, just like anybody else that has a need to be mobile, to acquire a user-friendly vehicle. That’s our goal.”
Newby said that Newby-Vance Mobility is a certified dealer/vendor that also specializes in transportation-related services for Veterans through the Veterans Administration (VA).
NVM benefits veterans because they can experience that same level of service and sales at one location.
“We have many veterans with disabilities come to us and they are not aware of the VA or other veteran programs designed to help them with their transportation-related mobility needs. NVM is very well-rehearsed in the programs that the VA offers,” Newby said. “If you are an eligible veteran, the VA may very well assist you with adaptive mobility equipment for your vehicle.”
Newby said that NVM works to educate veterans about mobility equipment they might be eligible for through the VA.
“NVM also works with other veteran advocacy organizations such as the Paralyzed Veterans of America to learn how to go to the VA and exactly what the process is that they go through to apply for these benefits,” he said.
Newby remarked that it is an honor to serve veterans.
“Veterans always have a special place in our heart because of what they’ve done for our country,” he said. “We try to go above and beyond to give Veterans the most streamlined experience they can have of figuring out exactly what they need, and what is available related to vehicle adaptations and, how to go through the process of the VA to determine eligibility.”
Newby said Newby-Vance Mobility works with the VA on the commercial side as well.
“We just delivered seven wheelchair accessible vehicles to the Veterans Administration in Oklahoma City. We’ve sold many of these to the VA hospitals around the state,” he said. “We work with the
VA regional hospital and living centers on the commercial side; we service their wheelchair lifts in many of their wheelchair accessible buses – these busses are used to transport many Veterans to-from the area VA living centers. It is an honor, and a good feeling to work with both the VA Hospitals and VA Regional Living Centers on the commercial side, and the Veterans themselves on the personal side.”
Newby said Newby-Vance Mobility treats veterans and all its customers as family.
“We pride ourselves that…after a purchase is made, that’s when our real job starts, and that’s taking care of these folks for as long as they own that special vehicle or equipment, and keeping them on the road,” he said. • Story and photos by Van Mitchell, staff writer
For more information about Newby-Vance Mobility call
(405)-282-3113 or (405)-778-2013 or visit www.newbyvancemobility.com.

This soldier did not see combat; he dealt with WWII’s aftermath.

He travelled through destroyed towns in France and Germany and saw old people and children picking up rubble to make homes. Guarded German POWs. Met Displaced Persons in camps. Aimed his M-1 Carbine at U.S. Army Military Police. These were some of Private Floyd Cheatwood’s actions in 1946 at age 19 while occupying defeated Germany after WWII.
Eighty years later and 5,125 miles from that, Cheatwood was the center of attention oan June 11, 2026, as 70 family, friends and fellow residents celebrated his 99th birthday at the Norman Veterans Center.
Cheatwood was drafted to active duty Army Air Corps service on August 19, 1945, before WWII ended. After basic military training, he went to several locations in the United States before de-boarding a troop ship in Le Havre, France, in January, 1946. In February, he arrived at his assigned unit, 9th Aviation Engineer Command, Erlangen Army Airfield, Bavaria, Germany.

Erlangen Duty
Soldiers slept and worked at Ferris Barracks, a former Wehrmacht post with little war damage. “They rebuilt it before we got there and that was the best barracks I ever stayed in. It had those marble floors and bathtubs.”
Cheatwood’s primary duty was to repair special purpose, heavy-duty bulldozers and other civil engineering construction equipment. He served there through August, 1946, before departing on emergency leave to the United States because his step-mother died.

Additional Duty
“I was in the bed (of a two-and-a-half-ton truck), guarding four prisoners. I was sitting there with a carbine across my lap. The guy that was driving was reckless, turned the corner real quick. I went out in the bed of the truck, and the rifle went over, slid against the cab. I was thinking, ‘Well, I’ve had it now.” You know, a new soldier. They gingerly got out of their seat, all four of them, went over there and picked me up, took me back and set me on the bench, and put the rifle back in my lap,” he said, smiling. “And right then I just thanked the good Lord for what was happening. All they wanted to do was go home. The war was over. They did not want any problems.” He guarded up to 19 Germans at a time.

Military Police Incident
“My sergeant told me to guard the building…not let nobody in the driveway. He said it was some stuff being stolen.” A jeep full of MPs pulled up and Cheatwood told them they could not park there. “One said, ‘Do you think you could get that carbine around before I got this .45 out of the holster?’ And crazy me, I pointed the rifle right at his throat and that was kind of scary. And I said, ‘Buddy, I’ve got a round in the chamber.’ One of them in the back seat said, ‘Well, we can park somewhere else because the kid is just doing what he’s told.’” Cheatwood said, “I thank the Lord that it didn’t come to that because I had the rifle pointing right at his throat. I felt bad about that ever since.” Was a bullet in the rifle’s chamber? No. “I played their bluff.”

Displaced Persons
“I talked to some of those people from Denmark, Sweden,” Cheatwood said. “They was in the next compound compared to our compound. The fence was 20 feet high. They had thousands that had come there from being repatriated, waiting for somebody to put them on the paths to where they could go back home.” This was the Erlangen Displaced Camp which held 822 people who were Holocaust survivors, forced laborers and refugees, according to Arolsen Archives.

It’s the Army or Me
After his step-mother’s funeral, Cheatwood didn’t return to Germany. Instead, he qualified as a paratrooper, rode gliders and worked on heavy equipment at various Army posts. He was honorably discharged as an E-5 Staff Sergeant in August, 1949. As a civilian, he worked for Halliburton, the City of Oklahoma City, and at Transcon.
Cheatwood did not reenlist. Why? He stated, “Fell in love…She said either the Army or me so I became a poor, foolish civilian.” So, he married Helen Jean Spaniel from Seminole in 1948. They were married 48 years before she died. After four years, he married Elva Jean, who died in 2015.
Older brother Ralph fought in WWII, Korea and Vietnam, 31-year career. Younger brother Charles fought in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, 20-year career. Floyd’s family includes one son, Tommy Lynn Cheatwood, and daughters Susan Ann Chavez, who is a retired U.S. Army Reserve nurse, and Marilyn K. Cheatwood. • Story by Lt. Col. Richard Stephens, Jr., USAFR, Ret. website: Rich Travel Niche

Named USA Today Readers’ Choice for Best Road Cycling Event for 2026, the adventure for seniors is even more inclusive and as close as Wichita Falls, Texas, the weekend of August 27-30, with the 45th-anniversary Hotter’N Hell 100 (HHH).
As the largest century bicycle ride in the nation, the HHH fosters a welcoming community and camaraderie, uniting over 13,000 riders who share a love for cycling and support each other through the challenge.
The inclusiveness allows senior cyclists to explore their new electric bicycles’ capacity for extended fun. Wichita Falls event organizers are happy to provide them equal access, only asking them to be careful.
Long-time HHH organizer Chip Filer notes that while e-bikes are not explicitly mentioned in the official documentation, owners are welcome to participate with the understanding that they must exercise caution, especially at the start and rest stops, to prevent control issues and ensure safety.
“With our aging population, we are open here at Hotter’N Hell to accommodating cyclists who are switching over to e-bikes,” Filer said last year. “Again, we just need them to realize those e-bikes can present control problems if the riders are not vigilant.”
Given the recent hotter-than-usual temperatures in July, participants should prepare for possible extreme heat on August 29, with tips on hydration, sun protection, and contingency plans available on the event website to help you stay safe and comfortable.
The event’s safety and support are
a top priority, with over 100 committee members and more than 1,000 volunteers ensuring a secure experience. This includes medical support and Support and Gear (SAG) assistance on every course and every rest stop.
From the large bicycle consumer show, featuring 50 booths showcasing the latest innovations and major manufacturers, to the myriad of other attractions, including a spaghetti dinner and a pre-ride breakfast buffet, there’s something for everyone.
After putting this on for 45 years, there are too many things going on during the four days to detail it all in an article of this nature.
Visit the HHH website at 2026-HHH-Guide-Pages-VG.pdf for the detailed downloadable Ride Guide, registration deadlines, and planning tips to ensure you’re ready for the event.
Don’t be discouraged by the 100-mile name; the HHH offers inclusive routes like the 10K, 25-mile, 50-mile, and 75-mile options designed to welcome riders of all levels and interests.
All this is just a two-and-a-half-hour drive from OKC. The distance from OKC to the Wichita Falls Multi-Purpose Events Center is 140 miles using I-44 through Lawton. Do not let that distance throw you off; you drive that far just to Durant here within Oklahoma.
Again, for the e-bike crowd, the event offers the most robust set of offerings in America.
Many senior cyclists have found that the surging-in-demand e-bikes are great for allowing them to ride more and farther than
they usually do. “Bicycling Magazine” rates 16 of them for their performance, value and ride quality in its June 2025 issue. Readers can observe how cyclists are turning to cycling more with the help of a little electricity and a significant amount of money.
While more than 10,000 cyclists descend on Wichita Falls, the event offers tent camping close by, where hundreds of people camp out in RVs and tents the night before. The camping facilities are equipped with shower facilities that open Friday night and are open 24 hours until after the event, so riders can shower near the start/finish area before they begin their trip home. This convenient camping option allows you to immerse yourself in the experience fully.
Bicycle clubs from surrounding states often rent buses and stay as far away as Lawton, Okla. or closer-in cities, filling up those accommodations. They get up early Saturday to take their bus into Wichita Falls to stage for the start.
The start of the ride is staged by those riding the most extended distances at the front. For some people, the start is a party where they meet with friends, beginning at 4 a.m. They are soon joined by 10,000+ other riders who have trained to complete their chosen distances. This early start time allows participants to beat the heat and enjoy the ride at their own pace.
All that pent-up human energy is unleashed at 7:05 a.m.
after the National Anthem, U.S. Air Force Flyover and cannon blast. Many say to experience the excitement of starting a major organized ride, the best place to see it is at the HHH.
No matter how far seniors ride, the HHH is about the camaraderie of riding along with thousands of other bicyclists who enjoy a lifelong sport, providing a tremendous health benefit without the overuse injuries of many other endurance sports. • Story and photos by Darl DeVault, contributing editor

Blake Kemp, a Veterans Service Officer, has been with the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs for nearly four years. In Oklahoma and other states, a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) is a state-appointed or state-affiliated professional who helps veterans and their families navigate the various federal, state, and local benefits, services, and advocacy processes available to them.
The Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) has exceeded its outreach targets for untethered veterans, as reported by James Bynum, the Executive
Director of ODVA, to the Oklahoma Veterans Commission at its July meeting. In the first
half of 2026, ODVA staff registered 938 previously unregistered veterans-surpassing the
original goal of 840-and in FY26, secured $1.2 billion in federal benefits for Oklahoma
veterans through ODVA claims.
Untethered veterans are those who have no direct connection to state or federal veterans
affairs agencies. By identifying and reaching out to these individuals, ODVA ensures they gain access to essential benefits and resources. Tethering veterans to ODVA provides:
• Access to Federal and State Benefits: Registration enables veterans to claim financial, healthcare, and housing benefits.
• Personalized Case Management: Veterans receive guidance from nearly 50 Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) across the state, who help navigate the claims process and coordinate services.
• Comprehensive Support:
ODVA offers prevention
programs, long-term care
housing, and benefit
management tailored to
individual needs.
• Trust and Engagement: VSOs focus on compassionate outreach, building trust and following through on commitments to veterans.
ODVA’s efforts are especially focused on aging veterans, including those from the Korean
and Vietnam wars, ensuring they are made aware of benefits and can access state veterans’ homes. Many veterans may not realize they qualify for these services, and ODVA is working
to change that through targeted outreach and partnerships with recognized Veterans Service Organizations.
“Our mission is simple: Veterans First,” said Paul Young, Chief of Staff. “We are proud of our achievements and remain committed to connecting every Oklahoma veteran with the benefits and support they deserve.”
To schedule a veteran intake appointment, visit the Claims & Benefits information page.

The Oklahoma Veterans Commission has authorized a reduction in the licensed bed capacity at the Ardmore Veterans Home to match its current usable capacity. Additionally, the commissioners approved up to $5 million in funding to develop a comprehensive plan that will assess potential demolition and renovation options for the facility.
The Commission’s action strengthens the Home’s financial position by allowing the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs to better align available funding and operating costs with the facility’s current capacity. The result is additional resources that can be redirected toward improving the portions of the Home where veterans live and staff work every day.
The action maintains ample long-term care capacity for veterans in southern Oklahoma through the combined capabilities of the Ardmore and Sulphur Veterans Homes and does not alter the Department’s long-term commitment to serving veterans in the region.
By aligning licensed capacity with the Home’s usable space, the Department will no longer incur unnecessary costs associated with excess staffing requirements and continued expenditures supporting portions of the facility that have not been successfully restored. Instead, those resources can be invested where they will have the greatest immediate benefit for residents and employees.
No Reduction in Force (RIF) is anticipated. Staffing will continue to be managed through normal workforce planning as resident census aligns with the updated licensed bed capacity.
Residents and staff should see the benefits of this decision in the near term through continued investment in occupied resident areas, employee workspaces, and facility improvements that directly enhance daily operations and quality of life.
This action does not change the Department’s long-term vision for the Ardmore campus. Planning will continue for the eventual replacement or redevelopment of the Home, and today’s action preserves the flexibility to pursue future licensed bed increases should future demand and facility improvements support them.
“This action reflects responsible stewardship of the resources entrusted to us while reinforcing our commitment to the veterans we serve,” said Executive Director Jay Bynum. “It allows us to direct more of our resources to the veterans living in the Home today while preserving our options for tomorrow.”
The Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs continues to operate one of the nation’s largest state veterans home systems, providing more than 1,350 licensed long-term care beds across Oklahoma. This decision strengthens the financial position of the Home, improves the management of public resources, and creates opportunities for immediate enhancements that will benefit both veterans and staff.
SUMMARY:
• Veterans in southern Oklahoma will continue to be served through the Ardmore and Sulphur Veterans Homes.
• Statewide, Oklahoma will continue to operate more than 1,350 licensed long-term care beds.
• The action allows the Department to better align available funding with actual operations.
• It also reduces ongoing costs associated with maintaining licensed capacity that cannot currently be utilized.
• Together, those changes free resources that can be invested where they produce the greatest benefit.
• Staffing will be managed through normal workforce planning asresident census aligns with the updated licensed capacity.
• This action does not alter plans to pursue the long-term replacement or redevelopment of the Ardmore Veterans Home.
• It preserves flexibility to increase licensed capacity in the future if demand and future facilities support it.