LAWTON – In a longstanding military tradition, tokens known as challenge coins are presented to service men and women to recognize exceptional achievement.
Lawton Public Schools continued that custom April 30, when the school district presented challenge coins to 21 local high school students who are planning to join the armed services after graduation. The presentation was part of LPS’ first-ever Salute to Service event, which included LPS Superintendent Kevin Hime and Michael Brown, civilian aide to the secretary of the Army.
The Army uses challenge coins to recognize all soldiers and civilian employees who demonstrate excellence on a daily basis, said Maj. Gen. Phil Brooks, commanding general of Fort Sill.
“And so, it’s an honor tonight to be able to participate with Kevin and Mike and the team to honor each and every one of you for the excellence that you’re about to achieve, whether you think so or not,” Brooks said. “Now, the drill sergeants, they may be a little painful at first, but you’re going to get through it.” Paying tribute Brown said the idea for the event sprang from a conversation between himself and Hime. He said he told Hime that the military base at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, puts on an event to honor students who want to serve their country.
“The cool thing is that Lawton Public Schools bought into the idea,” Brown said. “And so, Lawton Public Schools is part of what helped make this happen.”
Brown said the FIRES Patriots group, a band of local business owners who donate their time and money to help ensure that Lawton-Fort Sill is healthy and has a bright future, helped sponsor the event.
Other sponsors were BancFirst, City National Bank, Sovereign Bank, Arvest Bank, Liberty National Bank and the construction management company CDBL Inc.