Tag Archives: Veterans

2024 Tulsa Veterans Day Parade

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Monday was Veterans Day so I went to downtown Tulsa to see their annual Veterans Day Parade.

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The Tulsa Police Department opened it up with their motorcycles and right behind them was a Junior ROTC Marine Color Guard looking sharp in their uniforms.

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And then dignitaries in vintage military vehicles.

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And then the floats. This one was done by my former employer. ONEOK (pronounced One Oak) always shows up big for the Veterans Day Parade.

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And then a bunch of ONEOK employees followed the float. Other companies had floats as well.

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And then another JROTC color guard.

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The Booker T Washington High School Marching band shows up for the parade looking snappy in the uniforms.

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And the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Department shows up with one of their armored vehicles.

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And if you know tornado belt culture you know that Storm Trackers are celebrities. When they are not working they go to events and will sign autographs for you. Here is Van Castor’s pickup truck. These guys follow the storms and tornadoes as they develop. Here in Oklahoma we don’t run for shelter when the tornadoes come, we run outside to take a look at them.

One veteran didn’t make the parade. Here is my brother Bob.

Twenty years in the Navy and more afterwards as a civilian employee. This is his door wreath put together by our sister Ellen.

He is in assisted living here and living life. Left to right, Irv (Career Army Vet), his wife (and sister to Bob and I) Ellen, son to Heather and I, Logan, and kneeling my wife Heather.

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A photo I took of Bob several years ago when he turned 66.

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Here he is in Tulsa several years ago. He used to visit and run in our local half marathon. He’s run over a hundred half marathons and over fifty full marathons. He doesn’t run any longer but he gives life everything he has.

I’m linking with My Corner of the World

2022 Tulsa Veterans Day Parade

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We had a big Veterans Day Parade in Tulsa today. First one I have been to in a while what with being retired and Covid and all that mess. It lasted a long time. In Tulsa we love our Vets and we show up for them. We had several color guards for instance.

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The motorcycle cops did some fancy riding and looking all intimidating and such.

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I guessed that these are reservists or something.

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My employer sponsored the race and a bunch the employees marched.

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There were dogs.

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These planes did multiple flyovers.

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There were vets in trailers.

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And vets on trucks.

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We had guys in kilts.

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And high school JROTC cadets looking sharp.

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Lots of vintage cars.

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One guy brought his personal tank.

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A couple celebrity storm trackers showed up. They got more decals than NASCAR racers.

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And high school marching bands with baton twirlers showing their stuff.

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And Firemen!!

It was quite a show. For the vets.

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My brother was in the Navy a long time, now retired.

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My Dad was in the US Army during the occupation of Japan after World War II. He’s no longer with us but I think of him every single day. He was proud of his service. Dad’s grandfather served in the Army during the Spanish American War and Dad has a brother, my uncle, who was an officer in Navy. I have a cousin who served in the Army in Korea way back when.

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My brother-in-law Irvin is an Army vet. He and my sister and their kids lived all over the place during his service. That is the thing about having a family and being in the military. They serve as well. Irv has a grandson and a son-in-law currently serving.

To all our vets, we salute you and appreciate your service.