-
Oklahoma members of the Battlin’ Betties, left to right, Kelly Dwyer, Cathy Gronquist, and Mustang’s Megan Fox, attend the Oct. 9 ribbon-cutting of Yukon 66 Main Street Association’s “Yukon Salutes” exhibit, at the Yukon Veterans Museum, 1012 W Main Street in Yukon. Photo / Carol Mowdy Bond
Oklahoma members of the Battlin’ Betties, left to right, Kelly Dwyer, Cathy Gronquist, and Mustang’s Megan Fox, attend the Oct. 9 ribbon-cutting of Yukon 66 Main Street Association’s “Yukon Salutes” exhibit, at the Yukon Veterans Museum, 1012 W Main Street in Yukon. Photo / Carol Mowdy Bond -
The ribbon-cutting for Yukon 66 Main Street Association's "Yukon Salutes" exhibit took place at the Yukon Veterans Museum, 1012 W Main Street in Yukon. Photo / Carol Mowdy Bond
The ribbon-cutting for Yukon 66 Main Street Association's "Yukon Salutes" exhibit took place at the Yukon Veterans Museum, 1012 W Main Street in Yukon. Photo / Carol Mowdy Bond
The official ribbon-cutting for the opening of the “Yukon Salutes” exhibit took place Oct. 9 at the Yukon Veterans Museum.
A project of the nonprofit Yukon 66 Main Street Association and spearheaded by board member Kay Casper, the exhibit honors veterans and first responders during Veterans Appreciation Month. Banners of 34 veterans and 10 first responders are attached to light poles on Main Street.
Lt. Col. Rick Cacini, Yukon’s vice mayor, and the Yukon Veterans Museum president hosted the event.
Yukon Mayor Shelli Selby read an official proclamation, which proclaimed Oct. 11 through Nov. 11 as Veteran’s Appreciation Month, in order to recognize members of our armed forces.
Veterans, their families and city officials attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The keynote speaker was Luke Holland, who serves as chief of staff for U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe. Holland is a fourth generation
Oklahoman, who grew up in Bartlesville. Holland said his grandfather was born into poverty on a cotton farm, and went off to serve during World War II, serving as the captain of a U.S. Navy patrol torpedo boat.
“Several weeks ago in Cuba, people were protesting for freedom. And they were flying the American flag. It’s appropriate for us to fly the flag, and to protect what we have in America. We honor our veterans for the great work they’ve done. May God bless our veterans and military, and may God bless America,” Holland said.
Y66MSA Executive Director Vicki Davis said the veterans, whose pictures are on the banners, represent eight decades of service.
From 1971 to 1975, Sgt. Robert Crane served in the U.S. Marines during the Vietnam War. His widow, Jenny Crane, purchased a banner of her husband for the Yukon Salutes exhibit.
“The banners give recognition to the military. Some of them gave their best, and some of them gave all. It’s a way for me to honor my husband,” Jenny Crane said.
She serves as the chaplain and historian for the Yukon Veterans Museum.
“We just really work to help veterans as much as we can,” she said.
Also present were three members of Oklahoma’s chapter of the Battlin’ Betties, who volunteer to help veterans in any way they can. Megan Fox of Mustang, Cathy Gronquist and Kelly Dwyer were present, wearing attire reminiscent of the Andrews Sisters’ iconic World War II song “The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy from Company B."