From staff reports LAWTON – At the conclusion of the 24-hour ‘Steps Under Stars and Stripes’ Veterans Day Walk, everyone is encouraged to celebrate and honor our veterans.
To initiate the walk, a flag presentation will be held at 12:45 p.m. Friday at the Lawton-Fort Sill Veterans Center, 501 SE Flower Mound Road, in Lawton. The 24-hour walk begins at 1 p.m.
A ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, where event coordinator Joslyn Wood will give opening remarks on the symbolism of the 24-hour walk. Ashleigh Robinson, who was crowned Miss Oklahoma 2021, will sing the national anthem.
Speakers include Lawton City Mayor Stan Booker, Air Defense Artillery Commandant Col.
Glenn Hawke and retired Command Sgt. Maj. Larry Dinkel.
Arvest Bank, Bar-S Foods and PepsiCo each have contributed to the event. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., complimentary hotdogs and soft drinks will be served to those who attend. Saturday’s events also include retired General Tommy Franks’ Mobile Museum as well as static displays from Fort Sill.
Four-star Gen. Franks, a native ofWynnewood, Oklahoma, served as Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Central Command from 2000 to 2003, where he led U.S. and Allied Forces in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Under Franks’ leadership, forces invaded Afghanistan and overthrow the Taliban. In 2003, Franks also led forces to invade Iraq and defeat Saddam Hussein. Franks’ mobile museum features an array of artifacts the general has been given throughout his military career. The mobile museum will be set up at theVeterans Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Several businesses, organizations and community members are sponsoring the event. Sponsorships include Harley Combs, American Red Cross, Bar-S Foods, Buffalo Soldiers and 10th Lawton-Fort Sill Chapter, Carolina Comics, City of Lawton, Grandeur of Grace, Guild Insurance, House of Honor Custom Framing, KBZQ 99.5FM The Breeze, Sarah Knight, Lawton Dental Group, Leslie’s Pools, Mountain Metro Ambucs Big Hats, Native Smoke, Nothing Bundt Cakes, OK Family Title, Omni Financial, Rep. Daniel Pae, Pecan Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Pizza Corral, State Financial of Lawton, Veterans of Foreign Wars – Post 5263 and Post 1193, Whinery-Huddleston Funeral Home, and Sophia Zamano – Lawton Public Schools.
Other guests include state Reps. Trey Caldwell (R-Lawton), Toni Hasenbeck (R-Elgin), Daniel Pae (R-Lawton).
For more details, visit https:// stepsunderstarsandstripes.com or contact Joslyn Wood at (580) 512 4487.