Community honors heroes with Veterans Day events
Choctaw High School AFJROTC Cadets of the Kitty Hawk Air Society place flags at Choctaw Cemetery.
A Choctaw Firefighter assists local Boy Scouts in keeping a controlled burn as they incinerate thousands of tattered U.S. flags. (Photo by Ryan Horton)
Eastern Oklahoma County has long been a bedroom community to Tinker Air Force Base, and as such this area has a strong connection to the United States Armed Forces.
Veterans Day is not to be confused with Memorial Day–a common misunderstanding, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Memorial Day (the fourth Monday in May) honors American service members who died in service to their country or as a result of injuries incurred during battle, while Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans–living or dead–but especially gives thanks to living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.
Veterans are honored in many ways throughout the community each year.
As tradition Veterans Day ceremonies were recently conducted at each of Choctaw-Nicoma Park’s nine school sites, Jones schools and EOC Tech. As always Choctaw High School’s AFJROTC cadets provided their services with a flag-folding ceremony and/or presentation of colors at each school site.
The AFJROTC also placed flags at the graves of veterans in Choctaw Cemetery and picked up trash around Choctaw’s Veteran’s Memorial along NE 23rd Street.
Midwest City hosted the annual Veterans Day Parade.
Local boy scouts met in Choctaw Creek Park to properly retire thousands of used flags with an annual burning ceremony.
As always the patriotism and respect for U.S. veterans could also be seen in lawns throughout the eastern Oklahoma County area.
The Choctaw Kiwanis Club is a non-profit organization that will provide a flag service to your home five times a year.
For $25 a flag will be displayed from early morning to evening on these important holidays: Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day and Veteran’s Day. If you would like to participate or have other questions, please call Dee Brazell, the Choctaw Kiwanis Flag Project Coordinator at 390-8347.
The Harrah Lions Club offers residents of Harrah two options to display their patriotism. The volunteer-run nonprofit organization works hard to improve the Harrah community with several programs. For $25 a year the Lions Club will setup a United States Flag in your yard five times a year. Those days include Independence Day, Veteran’s Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day and Flag Day.
Or for $35 a year you will get a patriotic flag setup seven times a year, adding Harrah Day and Columbus Day. Flags will be setup on the holiday 30 minutes after sunrise and taken down 30 minutes before sunset. For more information call 664-3736 or 391-6422.
