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 to Coweta on its
inaugural journey from California to
Washington
DC.
The Flame of Freedom has one purpose and that is to
provide a light as a symbol of hope lighting the way home to the
Missing Man Table.
During Memorial Day week-end the flame will light the candle
during the Candlelight Vigil at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
and will escort the Gold Star Families (those who have lost a
loved one in the service to their country) as they walk along
the monument path during the solemn remembrance of their loss.
This annual Rolling Thunder event historically draws more
than one million participants and spectators.
The Flame is also lit at “The Ride Home”, an event held
in Andersonville, Georgia each September at the National POW-MIA
Memorial in recognition of our former POW’s (prisoners of war)
and in remembrance of those that are still missing.
The
Flame arrives in Coweta at 1:30 on Saturday May, 15 at the
Coweta High School Stadium.
FREEDOM ISN’T FREEDOM and at 2:00 a program remembering
those that have paid the cost for our freedom will be presented.
We will pay tribute to
Oklahoma’s fallen heroes and recognize
our GOLD STAR FAMILIES.
A special presentation will recognize and pay tribute to
Oklahoma’s former POWs and to those
still not accounted for. We
will also recognize and pay homage to Oklahoma’s Veterans and
Blue Star Families.
ALL
GOLD STAR FAMILIES AND FORMER POW’S ARE INVITED TO ATTEND AS
GUESTS OF HONOR (918-486-7770 for reserved seating).
There is no charge for the event and the general public
and media are invited and encouraged to attend this moving and
emotional ceremony.
The program will include a special presentation of the “Missing
Man Ceremony”, the “Lighting of the Flame”, a beautiful
presentation by the Muscogee Creek Nation Color Guard, guest
speakers will include Norman Lamb, secretary for Veterans
Affairs for the State of Oklahoma, and the music of Jared Rogers
from Tennessee with a special song written just for our Gold
Star Families. The
program will be followed by a casual “meet & greet” reception so
that the public can say “Thank You” for the service and
sacrifices made by these families.
MOTORCYCLES
are invited to stage with Rolling Thunder and the Flame Riders
at the Holiday Inn Express in Broken Arrow (at Elm Exit) at 12:00.
Come and meet the riders then kick stands up at 1:00 as
we escort the Flame into Coweta.
THE
GENERAL PUBLIC is invited to bring your American/POW flags and
line HWY 51 near the Coweta Football Stadium at 1:15 to welcome
the Flame of Freedom as it arrives. Then join us, at no charge,
in the stadium at 2:00 to witness the beautiful ceremony.
This is their only formal stop in
Oklahoma
so please give them an Oklahoma
welcome they can carry with them on the remainder of their
journey to Washington DC.
In
the event of rain the ceremony will be moved to the Coweta High
School Gymnasium.
Rolling
Thunder® Oklahoma is a national non-profit, all volunteer
organization comprised of Veterans and non-veterans alike.
Each member donates his or her time to publicize the
POW-MIA issues, educate the public that many POW-MIA were left
behind after all previous wars, prevent current military from
being left behind should they become POW-MIA, and to help
correct the past.
Rolling Thunder is deeply committed to serving all American
Veterans from all wars.
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There was a light that I
saw in the distance, faint and flickering, a sign of hope much
like the light at the top of a lighthouse flickering in the
fog…the table is waiting, a place just for me…they haven’t
forgotten. They know who we are and they know our pain.
