Armed Forces Day parade celebrates service, tradition

An audience saw the sights that hearken the song of freedom we know so well in Lawton Saturday’s Armed Forces Day parade through the city.

One of the nation’s largest annual military parades, this one was something special.

As a pair of Lawton Fire Department ladders from their engines met to create an arch and an American flag hanged in between on a pike at the intersection of West Gore Boulevard and Heroes Boulevard, Fort Sill Command Sgt. Major Bill Pearson readied to greet two new recruits, Evan Callagee, of Elgin, and Miriam Myers, of Lawton. Taking your oath of service to the nation rings even more special this day.

“It’s an incredibly large part of a huge experience that affect the rest of their lives,” he said. “It’s even more special on a day like today.”

After taking the oath of service from Col. James Peay, he shook the pair’s hands and reinforced how special the Army experience will be to them.

“If you serve three years or 30 years,” Peay said, “this will change your life.”

Lawton and Fort Sill’s connection is one of the strengths of this area and nation. With the top artillery school in the services, local specialty training helps link the community and Army post with the rest of the free world.

That would be on display as a cadre of service members from allied militaries marched with the American service men and women through the parade route from downtown Lawton through Heroes Boulevard and ending at Elmer Thomas Park.

With the Marine Corps color guard leading the parade, former soldier Danny Hughes stood at attention, hand raised to his head in salute. He served six years in the Army and followed his father’s footsteps in the service. Like many who live in Lawton, it was the military that brought them here and would make it become home after service.

“I ended up here because of my dad,” he said. “I’m just carrying on the tradition.”