The home of the Edmond History Museum, located at 431 South Boulevard has a history itself.

It once served as the armory home of the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s 45th Infantry Division.

“During the New Deal in the 1930s when President (Franklin D.) Roosevelt was putting people to work, the decision was made to build a lot of infrastructure that would help communities,” Amy Stephens, Museum Director said. “And just after World War I, there was still a lot of heightened interest in safety and security, and so armories were high on that list. There were, I believe, 52 armories built in Oklahoma. A handful remains now, and a couple of them are museums and some community centers and warehouses. This armory was built in 1936 by the PWA. This was built by the workers in our community, and it was for the National Guard 45th Infantry Division.”

Stephens said the 45th drilled out of the building until a new armory was built on Bryant Street in Edmond.

She said the old armory, which is owned by the City of Edmond, was utilized for storing lawn equipment, non-profit offices, and a theater group.

“For about 10 years, it had multiple purposes, including serving as the office of the Edmond Historical Society, which evolved into the Edmond History Museum,” she said.
The mission of Edmond History Museum is to celebrate Edmond history through preservation and education. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday – Friday, and 1 p.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday.

Artifacts visually tell the story of Edmond from the land run to the present.

“We are a community museum,” Stephens said. “What makes us slightly unique compared to a lot of community museums is that we change exhibits frequently. It’s not the kind of place where you come and you see the farm equipment and then five years later, you come and it’s the same farm equipment on display. We have a few permanent exhibits to tell about how Edmond started and talk a little bit about the purpose of this building originally. But after that, we have 43,000 artifacts in our collection to tell different stories.”
Stephens said that variety of storytelling has led to an increase in visitors.

“We (museum team) put a lot of emphasis on marketing and helping people understand that this is a museum,” she said. “We do a lot more community programming than we used to, and we’re out in the community more. When the city remodeled the park that we’re sitting inside, that brought in a lot of new people who had never even been here. The number has impressively increased. A couple of years ago, our average attendance was between 15,000 and 20,000, which has been ongoing for several years. The last two years we’ve had over 30,000 visitors. This year, we were at 34,000. So, we almost doubled attendance from a couple of years ago.”

Stephens said the museum currently has a Vietnam War exhibit titled “Close to Home,” which pays homage to the service of those from Edmond in that war.

“Telling the story of wars is important,” she said. “In Edmond, we have such a large population of military members and veterans. And so, every few years, we are doing some kind of war topic. We were looking at the calendar, realizing that this is the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War and knew this was the time to tell a story that hadn’t been told in a while.”

Stephens added “What I think is important about this exhibit is we interviewed people who are still alive, and we’re telling their stories because they’re still around. And we’re so fortunate to be able to gather the information about what happened to them then, and how it affected the rest of their life, and where they are now because of it. We profile six individuals. Everything from pilots to being down on the ground fighting in the swamps. And so, the artifacts and stories are about real people and people that live here.”
Stephens said the museum also tells the history of Edmond’s fire department, and Edmond’s connection to the historic Route 66, which turns 100 in 2026.

“The exhibits we have are very Americana,” she said. “We are currently installing an exhibit on the history of the Edmond Fire Department. We felt like that was a colorful story that everybody could find some interest in. We do have a small permanent exhibit about Route 66 history. We don’t have a ton of huge artifacts. We have a lot of small things, and so it’s a smaller footprint.”

Stephens said in 2026 the museum will have a new exhibit focusing on Tammi Sauer, a local children’s author.

“Early next year, we will be focusing on one of our very prolific local writers, Tammi Sauer,” she said. “She’s published well over 30 children’s picture books, and many are award-winners. They were all done by traditional publishers. She’s just a rock star. We wanted to tell that because 52% of our visitors are children.”

The museum is also doing a partnership with the Edmond Quilt Guild as well as its annual 5th grade art contest.

“The quilt guild is bringing their experts in, and people can sign up for a session to bring their family quilts and have it assessed,” she said. “Every spring we do an art exhibit of 5th grade art about trees in our town. It’s an Arbor Day festival. So, we will continue with that.”
Stephens said within the next year, they are converting a garage space on the corner of the museum into an activity classroom space.

“We are naming it the Thunderbird Room in honor of the 45th,” she said. “We will have a large neon of the Thunderbird that will be hanging on the walls. We want to pay a little more homage to our veteran history here.” For more information visit
https://www.edmondhistory.org/ or by calling the museum at (405)-340-0078. Museum admission is free. •
story and photos by Van Mitchell, staff writer

Enlisting at Seventeen
Bargas was in high school when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 17 in Oct. 1944. Two pals, Jimmy Jackson and Paul Cassilas, enlisted with him. Fortunately, all three came home and stayed friends for decades. After finishing training as a Boatswain’s Mate – a “jack-of-all-trades” sailor who performs a variety of duties – at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center on the shore of Lake Michigan,

Sea Duty
Bargas joined the U.S.S. Shenango (CVE-28), a small Navy escort carrier. The 53-foot vessel was manned by about 1,080 officers and enlisted sailors and launched SBD-3 Dauntless dive bombers (nicknamed “slow but deadly”) and Grumman F6F-3 and F6F-5 Hellcats.

His memories of life aboard the Chenango reveal both the routine and danger of carrier duty. “We had planes that they went out and done their job and we’d fold them up (wings) on the carrier, go downstairs, you know, that was it,” Bargas said. After an aircraft’s wing folded, called a “STO-Wing,” an elevator would lower one or two aircraft inside the carrier for safety and to provide more space for take-offs and landings.

Fire on the Flight Deck
He also remembered a day when a pilot’s landing went wrong. “I remember there’s one of them planes coming in and instead of him landing, he made a mistake and he hit the other planes that was already on the deck and they caught on fire. It wasn’t his fault…. It (arresting cable) stopped him, but not quick enough. I guess he didn’t cut the thing off before he was supposed to.” Bargas thinks one or two sailors were killed. The account is confirmed by Wikipedia. “On 9 April (1945), a fighter crashed upon landing and started a raging fire among the strike-loaded aircraft on Chenango’s deck.” The crew put out the flames and kept the ship operational.

Final Battle
That same month, the Chenango joined other Navy ships in the invasion of Japanese-held Okinawa. Wikipedia states, “She gave air cover in the feint landings on the southern tip of the island, then was assigned to neutralize the kamikaze (“divine wind”) bases in Sakashima Gunto.” These were suicide planes flown directly into the decks and superstructures of Allied ships.

Specific strikes by Chenango’s bombers and fighters included dropping 500- and 100-pound bombs on the runways at Nobara Airfield, damaging airfield barracks and control towers, and attacking fuel supplies
and ammunition. They also conducted combat air patrols to intercept Japanese aircraft and protect Allied ships.

According to the National WWII Museum, “The 1945 Allied amphibious invasion of Okinawa lasted from April 1 through the end of June and was the largest and deadliest operation conducted by American forces in the Pacific war.” The Navy’s “loss of life of nearly 5,000 sailors, with another 5,000 wounded, made Okinawa the Navy’s bloodiest battle of the war, greater even than its losses at Pearl Harbor.” Luckily, the Chenango’s crew escaped kamikaze aircraft attacks.

He sailed countless nautical miles. “For the time I was in, I covered a lot of territory.” Bargas said. “I went from one ocean to the other ocean. I went through the Panama Canal. I went to San Francisco and then later on when we came back, we came back through the Panama Canal. One ocean’s higher than the other. I didn’t know that. I couldn’t believe it.” Asked if he ever got seasick, he laughed. “Yes, I was sick for about a week.” Typhoons? He nodded. “We had several of them. The ocean’s rough.”

From War to Civilian Life
After being discharged as a Seaman Second Class on April 1, 1946, Bargas returned home and began building a civilian life. He married Patricia, and later, Joyce, and had six children and three step-children. His daughter, Lanna Daniels, said he first leased a Phillips 66 gas station in Tulsa before opening his own business, Bargas Garage, for twenty years. Nearly eight decades later, Bargas continues to serve his community. He attended the U.S. Navy’s 250th birthday celebration on Oct. 13 and has been asked to be the Grand Marshal in Claremore’s Veterans Day parade Nov. 11th. • Story by Retired Lt. Col. Richard Stephens, Jr., USAFER. See Rich Travel Niche

A Serious Start to an Interview
Stephens. “Sir, is there a story or two you want to share about your service?”

Mauch. “For the younger generation, World War II was terrible. I would like for them to know that. It’s not something you would be anxious to get into…The young people need to know it’s not like video games.”

Stephens. “Please elaborate. Do you mean in general or some of the things you saw?”

Mauch. “You’re constantly hoping you stay alive so you can come home and have the American dream to marry and have a family. And that’s constantly on your mind.”

Stephens. “How did your service or the war change you?

Mauch. “Yes. Physically, I was like 135 pounds. After I got through bootcamp, I’m about 175. I think a little bit stronger (chuckles). Mentally, you were kind of prepared because of the Drill Instructor. He instructed you on how tough you should be.”

Stephens. “What would you say about how you did?”

Mauch. “Well, you experience so many things that if you’re 17 or 18 when you go in, you’re very inexperienced. When you come out, you faced a totally new world of time while you were there.”

Stephens. “Do you mean facing a world of life and death?”

Mauch. “Yes. The value of life. You’re more confident if you’re in the Marine Corps, especially. You’re more confident in your life in the future, I think all the way through life after.”

Stephens. “Anything else you’d like to say?”

Mauch. “Marry a lady that you love, for sure, and that will take good care (of you). Enjoy your family as long as possible.”

William “Bill” Mauch, now 100, saw combat close up as he rode in amphibious assault landing tractors during two of the Pacific’s most grueling battles – Peleliu and Okinawa.

Into the Heat of Peleliu
Between Sept. 16 and Oct. 20, 1944, Mauch was deployed to the island of Peleliu, a small island in the Palau archipelago located some 500 miles east of the Philippines. He arrived just after the initial Sept. 15 landing. He said, “I was in reserve maintaining the radio systems of about a dozen tractors in our company.”

Conditions were brutal. Temperatures soared to 115 degrees daily. “We drank contaminated water (from contaminated petroleum 55-gallon drums) and there was no way to bathe.” Relief came when the Navy supplied water purified through osmosis systems. Mauch said they were often dehydrated and suffered from dysentery and jungle rot in the crotch and armpits. “It was total misery.”

The Invasion of Okinawa
Five months later, Mauch “carried the first wave of troops to shore April 1, 1945”, during the invasion of Okinawa – the final island battle before an anticipated invasion of mainland Japan. Once again, he rode in amphibious tractors formally named as Landing Vehicle, Tracked, LVT4.

Each LVT4, Mauch explained, “would haul about 25 or 30 (personnel) in the rear, and the front was the driver and the radio operator, and then the commander would be also aboard…You could communicate back and forth on the tractor…I was responsible for the radio intercom systems for 12 of those LVT tractors.” He described how the vehicles were designed for transport and protection. “And then on the back was a drop tailgate, I’ll call it, and the troops would come out there and the tractor would protect them more or less while they got out. Then we could haul supplies, ammunition and things like that. Your initial job was to get the troops ashore.”

The Somber Duty of Burial
After the initial invasion of Okinawa, Mauch’s duties took a somber turn. “About the third day that we got a dispatch to pick up a load, and that was about, I’ll say six or seven dead bodies in body bags. We loaded them on our tractor…We’d haul them to the to the designated cemetery area.” The temporary gravesites were later uncovered and the remains returned to the United States.

Living Under Fire
In a Sapulpa Times interview by Micah Coquette, “Lifelong Sapulpan Bill Mauch turns 100, inducted into the Centenarians of Oklahoma Hall of Fame,” Mauch reflected, “’On that island, we were constantly under threat to our lives,’” adding, “’You have rifle fire, you have mortars, you have big guns and bombers every night. You have anti-aircraft shells that burst and can land on your tent. There’s just all these ways you could get killed.’”

Building a Civilian Life
Discharged in Feb. 22, 1946, Mauch returned to Sapulpa. His father took him to an Odd Fellows meeting where he reconnected with his high school mechanical drawing teacher. “He saw me there and he said, ‘Oklahoma Gas & Electric head called for a young man to train as an engineer…I’d like for you to go ahead…So I did and they hired me. And I spent three years as a junior engineer for OG&E.”

Realizing he needed to use his GI Bill, Mauch enrolled at Oklahoma A&M, spending nearly five years earning a degree in architectural engineering. Afterwards, “I went to work in the aircraft industry for Douglas Aircraft in their structural engineering in Tulsa. Later, McDonald Douglas bought them. I worked for them for 33 years.”

Love and Legacy
He married Helen in 1954, and together they celebrated 70 years of marriage before her passing in 2024. The couple raised four children and were blessed with six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Today, William Mauch continues to live in his hometown of Sapulpa. • Story by Retired Lt. Col. Richard Stephens, Jr., USAFER. See Rich Travel Niche

Governor Kevin Stitt Commends “Oklahoma Veteran News Magazine’s” Purpose

Oklahoma’s first statewide veteran news magazine, now in its eighth month, has received an official commendation from Governor Kevin Stitt for its outstanding service and contributions to the state’s military community. The honor recognizes the magazine’s rapid growth and its commitment to sharing stories and resources vital to Oklahoma’s more than 300,000 veterans and their families.

The launch of the monthly free “Oklahoma Veteran News Magazine” highlights its mission to honor service members and their families. It invites all Oklahomans to support this important effort.

“We encourage citizens to join in celebrating the missions of our five major military installations and supporting our new publication,” Co-publisher Steven Eldredge said. “We are proud to share this free monthly magazine published to increase awareness and support of our service members and our people’s support for them among patriotic Oklahomans.”

Oklahoma takes pride in hosting some of America’s largest and most significant military installations, which serve as regional economic powerhouses and are often the largest local employers.

Altus Air Force Base, Fort Sill, McAlester Army Ammunition Plant, Tinker Air Force Base, and Vance Air Force Base host thousands of service members and their families. They all employ thousands of patriotic civilian Oklahomans and play a vital role in national defense.

Oklahoma’s National Guard, Reserves, and their civilian workers also support our military’s important role in keeping our country free.

The publishers say this new magazine will aim to strengthen pride and unity among all Oklahomans by highlighting the state’s values and priorities for its military community as the Oklahoma Standard.

Oklahoma’s Patriots, stationed at these installations, have a significant impact on the economy and community. Their contributions, including job creation, business partnerships, and infrastructure development, are a source of pride for the state.

“Oklahoma Veteran News Magazine” seeks to elevate awareness and respect for veterans’ service in Oklahoma and to highlight how our state offers nationally ranked tax benefits to veterans who retire here, honoring their sacrifices while defending American freedoms.

By helping to connect veterans with resources, the “Oklahoma Veteran News Magazine” aims to inspire community engagement. It does this by sharing stories of veteran achievements and providing updates on benefits and services.

The publication acts as an important platform to raise awareness of veteran businesses in our communities. It showcases these businesses so other veterans can recognize them as vital resources, thereby boosting the state’s support for its military community.

As its statewide distribution continues to grow, this magazine will become a vital part of the state’s identity and its dedication to the military community. It strives to pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of all Oklahoma veterans and their families.

Co-publishers Steven Eldridge and Steve Sibley encourage Oklahomans to support the publication through subscriptions and article submissions. They ask everyone to share it with veterans in their communities, fostering a sense of belonging and collective pride.

“This magazine will honor the men and women who have taken the oath to defend America in our great state and their families,” Eldridge said. “We are proud to provide this free public service. Our goal is to raise public awareness and respect for our service men and women, ensuring their sacrifices are recognized and celebrated across Oklahoma and the world.” • story and photos by Darl DeVault, contributing editor

SPECIAL NOTE: Without the support of our veteran-friendly businesses below, we could not publish this magazine. Please be sure to reach out and thank them for supporting Oklahoma Veterans.

• Nerve Renewal Group
• Synergy Home Care
• Belmont Cove
• Villagio Senior Living
• Sibley Insures
• Seniors Helpers
• KW Real Estate Planner
• Cornerstone Home Health
• Brightstar Care
• Help for Veterans
• Saint Ann Assisted & Independent Living
• Brazito Coins & Collectibles
• D-Dent
• Bravo Roofing
• Oklahoma Veterans United
• SNU Veteran Center
• Navigating Medicare
• Excell Private Care Services
• Visiting Angels
• Miller Hospice
• OK Tobacco Settlement
• Endowment Trust
• Grace Home Care
• Oklahoma Military
Heritage Foundation
• Homewell Care Services
• Jimmy’s Egg Restaurants
• English Village Skilled Nursing &
Therapy – Altus, OK
• River Valley Skilled Nursing and Therapy – Clinton, OK
• The Fairmont Skilled Nursing & Therapy – Oklahoma City, OK
• Kingwood Skilled Nursing & Therapy – NE Oklahoma City, OK
• The Ambassador Skilled Nursing & Therapy – Tulsa, OK
• University Park Skilled Nursing & Therapy – Tahlequah, OK

Have you seen those memorial highway signs with names and military ranks on them along the interstates in the Tulsa area? Have you wondered about the person named on those signs? One such sign is on Interstate 169 at 76th and 86th Streets in the north and southbound lanes in Owasso. It says “SGT Anthony Del Mar Peterson Memorial Highway.” Who is SGT Anthony Del Mar Peterson and why does he have a sign? I will start at the end of the story and then go back to the beginning.

SGT Anthony Peterson served in the Oklahoma National Guard. He was killed in action while serving in the Zurmat district, Paktya province, Afghanistan on August 4th, 2011. He was 24 and on his second deployment. He is survived by his parents Garth and Terra, two siblings, a son and numerous other family and friends.

I met with Anthony’s parents to learn more about who he was.

Anthony was athletic, loved the outdoors and was always training for something. Despite being a protective big brother, he also liked teasing his siblings. He once tied both of them up and hid them in a closet telling them they needed to learn how to escape in case they were ever captured. When his parents talked to him about it afterwards, he said he was just training them.

Both of his grandfathers and an uncle served in the military, however, they aren’t what influenced him to join. When he was in kindergarten, the family lived in California close to Mather Air Force Base. His mother Terra reminisced about them seeing men jumping out of a Blackhawk helicopter and young Anthony watching with big eyes and stating that’s what he wanted to do when he grew up. His compassion for the military would deepen after the events of September 11, 2001 which drew him to sign up for the military using the delayed entry program. He was so proud, he wore his uniform to his graduation ceremony. Anthony’s father believes he also knew that his parents couldn’t afford to send him to college so joining the military would take that burden off of them.

After his 2005 graduation from Chelsea High School, Anthony volunteered for his first deployment. During that time he was notified that his ex-girlfriend had a son and he was the father. As soon as he came back from that deployment he was an instant father as his son was already under his parents guardianship and living with them. The most important things in his life were God, family and country. His favorite quote was, “Come home with your shield or on it.” In the Spartan world where this quote comes from, to come home without your shield is a sign of cowardice. To come home on your shield (dead) is a sign of honor, meaning you fought til the death.

Garth and Terra Peterson are proud of the man Anthony became and are grateful for the time they had with him. They raised his son, who is now almost twenty years old and is an aspiring music producer. From the time that his dad was killed, he was taught that he had gone to be with God. His memories were kept alive through sharing what was in their hearts, by honoring his life and remembering his sacrifice.

The Peterson’s love seeing their son’s name on a highway sign and hope that it will serve as a reminder to the thousands who drive past it daily to appreciate our freedom and raise awareness about the families who have paid the ultimate price for it. They admit that their own awareness about such sacrifices and the meaning of Memorial Day and Veterans Day grew deeper when they lost Anthony. They encourage people to look up the name of those listed on the highway signs and learn about who they were.

I asked what they would say if they could say anything to Anthony. They agreed they would tell him they loved him and how grateful they are that God lent him to them. I asked what they thought he might say to them. Dad said he would say, “I love you.” Mom said he would say, “Good job, Mom. You did exactly what I wanted you to do.”

Garth and Terra have never lost their faith in God. They remain grateful for the twenty-four years they had with Anthony and for the gift of being able to raise his son.

SGT Anthony Del Mar Peterson is laid to rest at Ft. Gibson National Cemetery. •
story and photos by Jill Stephenson, mother of a fallen soldier.

The Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame celebrated its 26th Banquet and Induction Ceremony on Nov 1 at the Embassy Suites, Norman. This year’s class included 11 living and deceased service members representing all Services and all ranks, one civilian and the Kiowa Code Talkers of WWII. The 590 attendees were awed by their valor in battle. The Hall of Fame is one arm of the Oklahoma Military Heritage Foundation that also supports Hall of Honor Chapters in Oklahoma towns.

After honoring our national symbols, each service medley was played and dinner served. Singer and performer Maggie Bond and guitarist Dennis Hoch, a Navy veteran of Vietnam, provided entertainment.

Induction Ceremony
After each inductees’ biography was read, the inductee or a representative took the stage with the person who submitted the nomination and the Ambassador who assisted their family’s attendance. Two inductees are highlighted.

Army Colonel Philip Adair
Lt. Col. Gale Clem, his daughter, accepted the award because he died in 2017. She noted, “He was very humble. He…would basically give credit to his fellow servicemen, the crew chiefs, the maintainers, and the other pilots with him…it’s a tribute to an entire generation of Americans…”

Marine Corporal Byron Gordon
Because Gordon died in 2017, his oldest grandson, Chad Higbee, accepted the honor. Gordon was at Bataan when it fell in April 1942. He jumped in the ocean and swam towards Corregidor Island, 3.5 miles away. Years ago, Gordon was asked why he swam. He replied, “It was either that or a Japanese bullet.” Higbee said his grandfather “was actually being encircled by two sharks that were very aggressive. Granddad wasn’t really an overtly religious person, but he did pray for help…And that prayer came in the form of a dolphin who drove off the sharks and then gave him a ride.” Many in the crowd gasped or laughed hearing that story.

Public Service Awards
After 10 military members, including the Kiowa Code Talkers, were inducted for valor, Major General (Ret.) Douglas O. Dollar, USA, who founded the Hall of Fame, and Colonel (Ret.) Kelly Zachgo, President of the Oklahoma Military Heritage Foundation, awarded Distinguished Public Service Awards to CAPT John Kielty, USN, and Mrs. Pamela Kloiber.

Dollar explained the purpose of the Hall of Fame. “We try to honor veterans for one thing, for valor. They’ve been outstanding in combat. The other criteria is that they may have done community/public service for veterans, and they certainly deserve recognition and encouragement.”

Zachgo was pleased with the night’s ceremony. “It was clear that attendees connected with the inductee’s stories and sacrifices. We’re here to honor Oklahoma’s veterans and tonight the cup for them was filled up and held high.”

Inductees not listed in October’s Veteran News Magazine

PVT Oscar J. Upham, U.S. Marine Corps, 1871 – 1949. Upham served in China during their 1899 – 1901 Boxer Rebellion. He received the Medal of Honor for heroic action erecting barricades under enemy fire. He served on the USS Oregon in the Spanish-American War.

CPL Byron C. Gordon, U.S. Marine Corps, 1919 – 2017. During WWII, Gordon deployed to China, Bataan and Corregidor. He endured 3.5 years as a prisoner of war, surviving harsh labor in prison camps and mines. Gordon was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and POW medal.

RADM Albert L. Kelln, U.S. Navy, 1929 – 2022. Kelln graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, served on the USS Blue and USS Ronquil during the Korean conflict, became one of the first officers qualified to operate a nuclear reactor and was Chief Engineer on USS Enterprise.

SSG Virgil Malone, U.S. Army, 1921 – 2004. During the Battle of the Bulge in WWII, Malone drew the enemy’s fire on himself so his fellow soldiers could eliminate a machine gun position. He was wounded in the head and awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart for extraordinary valor.

SGT Gary L. Opela, U.S. Army. Opela deployed to Vietnam and twice earned the Silver Star. On July 24, 1970, he led a night defense, coordinated supporting fire, and evacuated wounded under heavy enemy attack. Opela helps veterans in Prague.

SGT Harold E. Wadley, U.S. Marine Corps. Wadley earned his first Purple Heart during the Vegas Hill battle, Korean War. With the 5th Marines in Vietnam, he received the Bronze Star with “V” for valor for rescuing wounded comrades. During Operation Swift, he was wounded, earning another Purple Heart and the Silver Star. •
story and photos by Lt Col Richard Stephens, Jr., USAFR, Ret.

For more information about the Oklahoma Military Heritage Foundation, go to https://okmhf.org.

George Shafer, a U.S. Army veteran, was at his lowest point when his wife Meredith found him in their family’s treehouse with a shotgun aimed under his chin.
He credits her with getting him the help he needed when he was ready to end it all.
“I suffered a traumatic brain injury (while serving) and I got into a deep depression,” Shafer said. “I am a veteran that has struggled. I have struggled with the aimlessness, and the lack of passion, feeling worthless, feeling empty, feeling void.”
Shafer those feelings only heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic after he and his wife’s ministry which helped veterans struggling with addiction closed its doors.
“When the ministry (in Edmond) fell apart in the pandemic, I lost many relationships, and I really isolated myself. I hurt a lot of the friends that I had at the time,” he said.
Shafer said after Meredith found him in the treehouse; she went to work to get him help.
“She was relentless,” he said.
Meredith Shafer wrote in a Facebook post about her and George getting saved 12 years ago.
“Twelve years ago, today (Sept. 28) the Lord saved us,” she wrote. “I was pregnant with our youngest, and life had been in shambles for a while. Mr. Wonderful (George) was chained by addiction, and I was at the end of my rope. That day I found him in our kids’ treehouse about to take his own life. It turns out, he was at the end of his rope too and did not know how to get out of those chains. Twelve years ago, God met us in a treehouse and changed our lives forever. Not in an instant like we wanted, but over and over in the daily choices He showed us how to make.”
Shafer said their response to the pandemic helped shape his family’s future.
“When the pandemic hit Oklahoma, our family had a meeting around the dining room table. We were all nervous, but we discussed what opportunities were available in our new norm,” he said. “We told our kids that it was a difficult situation, but it was also globally difficulty being experienced by everyone. Meaning, the people who are quickest to adapt to change will be the most prepared when the pandemic was over. Our family received this well, and got to work! But they also helped me do the same.”
Shafer decided to go back to school online through Liberty University and receive his Masters of Divinity degree from Regent University.
“There’s just been a calling on my life (to complete his education), and I’ve known it for a very long time. And I ran from it. But when COVID hit that was one of the thresholds that was there for me to cross,” he said.
Shafer credits his wife and children for sticking with him through his studies.
“Meredith Shafer, Jack, Tate, Lucy, and Isaiah; this victory is for you,” Shafer wrote in a Facebook post. “For the missed: sports events, kid drop-off and pickup, parent/teacher conferences, etc. Thank you for helping me, believing in me, and trusting me for the past 7 years through both an undergrad and a challenging master’s program. For a guy who had a 9th grade education prior to college, there were days I wasn’t sure we were going to make it (math and Greek). You guys helped me break generational curses and change the trajectory of our family name.”
Shafer graduated with his master’s degree last spring but was still unsure of what was next for him.
That is when he and his wife felt a calling to come to Generation’s Church in Guthrie.
“I scheduled a meeting with my pastor Josh Seabolt (and told him his story),” Shafer said. “I told him I made a lot of mistakes, and he showed me the grace of Jesus Christ.”
Through that conversation, Shafer was later hired as Generation Church’s Pastor of Digital Communications, and his wife serves as Pastor of Assimilation and Small Groups.
He thanked Generations Church for giving his family a shot.
“To our Generations Church family, you will have no idea how much your love and support has meant to our family. So grateful for each of you,” he said. “It’s very humbling.”
Shafer is the former chaplain of the American Legion Lebron Post 58 in Guthrie, where he helped launch its Bunker 58 Esports program, which is designed to reduce veteran suicide by providing an environment of a connection, teamwork, and camaraderie for local veterans.
Shafer said his struggles help him better help other veterans.
“When I see that in somebody else, I’m able to recognize it,” he said. “Not because I’ve experienced exactly what that person has experienced, but it rekindles my desire to ensure that nobody ever feels that way again. To ensure that they understand that they’re made in the image of God, in the image of their creator, and that they have worth, and that they have value. Even if they no longer wear the uniform or serve the country, they still have value and they still have worth, and they still have things that they were put on this planet to do. And if I can help them get through this short, temporal period of feeling empty, it’s my honor to do that.” •
story by Van Mitchell, staff writer
For more information about Generations Church visit
https://www.generationsguthrie.com.