South Grand Lake Lion’s Club Veterans Honor Plaza

Story by Leigh Maria Thomas

Artist’s Rendering Provided by Virginia Gibson

Think the WWII Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Wall and countless other National Memorials located in Washington D.C. and throughout the U.S. outside of Oklahoma are too far to travel to visit? Well, now you don’t have to travel much farther than your own backyard! The South Grand Lake Lion’s Club is proud to announce the plans for a Veterans Honor Plaza to be located in Grand Lake’s very own Langley, Oklahoma!

Organizing the September 11, 2010 ground breaking ceremonies is Virginia Gibson of Oklahoma State Bank fame.

“The City of Langley has kindly donated three lots on which to build the plaza,” says Virginia, who notes that the location of the site is on Main Street in Langley by the Langley Park.

According to estimates, the project is expected to cost over $60,000.00, not including the landscaping portion.

In order to raise money for the Veterans Honor Plaza, the South Grand Lake Lion’s Club is offering for sale to the public memorial bricks, pavers, and benches to be used in the Veterans Honor Plaza. The bricks, which will be used to complete a 40-foot long “Walk of Honor” in the plaza, are priced at $100 each and provide 3 lines of engraving. The pavers are priced at $250 each and provide 6 lines of engraving. Finally, 8 benches are planned for placement around the plaza and are available for purchase at $1,500 each and they provide room for 24 characters to be engraved. Persons interested in purchasing any of these items can pick up order forms at Oklahoma State Bank, Langley Tag Agency and The Langley Library.

Featured throughout the plaza will be 9 flag poles to proudly fly Old Glory and the focal point of the plaza will be the large black granite monument with 3 sides which will be engraved with the names of the six branches of U.S. Military and Service groups: The United States Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines, as well as the Merchant Marines and Coast Guard. On the front of the monument, there is an engraving of our National Emblem, the proud Bald Eagle.

Ground breaking for the Veterans Honor Plaza is scheduled for Saturday, September 11, 2010 at 11:00am. What better way to honor those who have served and are currently serving our country than on the 9^th Anniversary of 9/11, a day that will live in infamy, a day where America and the rest of the world lost so many innocent lives.

Guest speaker will be Disney’s own Charles Henry, who will speak on the topic of “Freedom Isn’t Free.” Charles is a 20-year veteran of the armed forces and is disabled. Charles joined the United States Marines in 1967 and was assigned to the 3^rd Marine Division Reconnaissance Battalion and was a Marine Corp Sniper. Charles served in 29 Long Range Recons during which he was shot twice and for which he received 2 Purple Hearts. In 1970, Charles was moved to the Fleet Reserve. After his time in the VA Hospital recovering, Charles was no longer able to serve in the Marines due to his injuries. So, being a true Military Son like his father, grandfather, uncles and brothers, Charles wanted to continue to serve his country! So he joined the Army in 1970 where he served several years, retiring in the late 80’s as a Medic in the Army National Guard.

Charles now serves as an Associate Pastor at Langley’s First Baptist Church. He and his wife, Dot, recently travelled to Norman, Oklahoma, where they saw the travelling Vietnam Wall. Charles was finally able to see the names of some of his brave brothers-in-arms engraved. Charles remembers two special soldiers, Sergeant Kenneth E. Gayer of Fresno, California, who was killed by an IED on March 10, 1969, and Corporal George Frances Landi, of the Bronx, New York, who was killed by a sniper on June 24, 1969. For Charles, these two men were friends who saved his life more than once. They represent to him that from Coast to Coast of the United States of America, and of course Alaska and Hawaii, there are men and women who bravely put their lives on the line for us to have the freedoms we experience each moment of the day. He also wants people to know about the brave men and women serving in non-combat roles, behind the scenes. These people too are sacrificing time away from their loved ones, as well as their lives while being in combat zones.

Never Forget… Freedom Isn’t Free. Thank you to all the men and women in uniform who have served and are currently serving our great Nation. God Bless You!