Next Tuesday, this nation will celebrate what I think is one of the greatest holidays of the year, Veterans Day.
I know I will take some time that day to pause, think about and honor all the brave men and women who have served this country. We should always think of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for this nation of ours.
I personally knew some of those who gave their lives for the freedom of this country.
Also, we should remember to thank those who are still willing to serve this nation. I have nephew serving in the military at this t ime.
More than 7,000 men and women from Oklahoma alone have made the supreme sacrifice. Their names are inscribed on the magnificent Oklahoma Veterans Memorial Wall at the War Memorial in Veterans Woodland Park in Shawnee.
Each time I have a chance to stand and place my hand over my heart and say the Pledge of Allegiance or listen to our national anthem being played, I think of my dad and all the other people I knew and know who have been willing to serve in the military.
My seven-year-old grandson knows how to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
Several of the board, town council and commission meetings I cover have it on the first part of their agendas to recite along with a prayer.
There were some of my high school classmates who were deployed to Vietnam. As far as I know, they returned home safely. That’s a miracle in itself.
I served in the U.S. Army Reserves for 13 years with the 3rd Battalion 291st Regiment the 3rd Brigade of the 95th Division. The unit was based in the building in Shawnee used to house part of Vyve and the state driving license examiner’s office and did for a long time.
While we were never called up or deployed during my time in the unit, we all went through basic training and Areas of Individual Training. Some of us were also required to attend schools and other types of training.
I ran across a partial list recently of some of those I served with who are from this area and who I run into or have contact with occasionally. They include Bill Ford, who was my first company commander, Gary Slate, Rick Brown, Jesse Fields, Richard Spencer, Perry Dan McKinley, Clayton Eads, Stanley Austin, Buck Day.
We attended annual training each year at different bases and met at least one weekend a month in the building I already mentioned. Some of us had to meet more often, especially around annual inspection time.
I was honored to have had the privilege to serve in the military. The United States Armed Forces is strong today and needs to remain that way in the future.
This coming Tuesday will be a day of remembrance for all those who have served and continue to serve in the United States military.