The trumpet sounded at 10:00 am sharp. Bright sun spotlighted the honor guard of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4415, warriors of another day, who marched in formation with a never forgotten precision. They presented the colors and launched the U.S. Flag skyward. Going along for the ride, the Blue Star Flag hung just below Old Glory. Originated in 1917, the Blue Star Flag represents the support of American families for our fighting men and women of all eras. Over the years, mothers have placed the symbol in their windows and many times have displayed multiple “blue stars,” each representing a son or daughter in active military service. When a loved one was lost a Gold Star was placed over the blue one. War Mothers, an organization of special maternal sacrifice and devotion, has helped promote the Blue Star project, which has been revived by a coalition of veterans in Alabama who sent this flag to Hobart. Climbing the mast, the flags briefly embraced and then, the wind suddenly awakened; they exploded outward in a burst of brilliant color. On this Veterans Day these great banners flew over Hobart and the State of Oklahoma in concert for the first time. Red clay soil anchors the flagpole in land once claimed as The Louisiana Purchase, No Man’s Land, Indian Territory, and the Kiowa Indian Reservation, and is now known as Kiowa County in the State of Oklahoma.

On this day hundreds of people intensely watched the ceremony, listening curiously to the principals who participated in the affair. Then Mayor Tom Talley cordially welcomed General Tommy Franks and the Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum. General Tommy Franks, dressed in his ranching “fatigues”, stepped forward. The afternoon before the Veterans Day Ceremony found him casually seated on a handcrafted wooden bench on the sidewalk in front of the museum talking to a passing friend, a scene reminiscent of “Spit & Whittle” clubs in rural communities throughout America. In marked contrast to the media image of him in battle dress, commanding the War Room of the U.S. Central Command his blue jeans, work boots, and a sleeveless hunting vest camouflaged one of the truly great U.S. Army Generals. Imposing in spite of his casual dress, he commenced his message by emphatically declaring that all must recognize and ensure the preservation of Freedom. He proclaimed that the sacrifice of U.S. troops and their families must never be abandoned or forgotten. His expression hardened a bit and his voice rose. “Freedom is not free! Sacred, yes, but not free!” The soul and the motivation of the man were exposed-- no guile, no political doubletalk.

General Franks had the complete attention of the crowd when he gave a rundown of the wars that have involved Americans since her birth. These included the American Revolution’s commencement at Concord, the War Between the States, the Argonne and Verdun of WWI, Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge in Germany, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Luzon of WWII, Korea, Viet Nam… When he mentioned Viet Nam, this great hulk of a man, who is known for his iron fist and no-nonsense attitude as the Commander of the U.S. Central Command, suddenly stopped speaking. Glistening tears filled his penetrating eyes. Looking back and forth he slowly panned the large semicircle of friends and neighbors gathered before him. The heartbeat of the crowd counted a slow cadence. Pondering his message no one disturbed the pervasive silence. As he scanned the group the pause became difficult to bear. He didn’t blink. He didn’t seem to breathe. Now the even brighter sun lit his chiseled and brazen features reflecting years of exceptional leadership, decision, and resolve. Truly, one could appreciate the general as the icon of the American fighting man with whom one would choose to share a foxhole “when the chips are down” and the Hitlers, the Mussolinis, the Stalins, the Maoists, the Ho Chi Minhs, the Ben Ladens, and other madmen who would seek the acquiescence and surrender of our American values and way of life are “coming over the hill.”

Sensing and appreciating his emotion, the crowd applauded reverently. Finally breaking the silence General Franks concluded and reiterated, “We must never forget that Freedom is not free! America must always repel any attempts to take it away from her people. And, likewise, the American Fighting Man must not be forgotten by Americans— ever!” He added, “Cathy and I are living here because we want to do so” and he enumerated the reasons. They all added up to God, Family, and Country! General Tommy Franks settled here to do his part to ensure The American Way for his progeny and his grandkids and to make a difference.

The General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute is a phenomenon of selfless purpose, and it will prove to be far-reaching in its scope for future generations of American school children, children who will become America’s fathers, mothers, and grandparents who will be the ones responsible for the preservation of Freedom and the American Way. Unique in its concept, the Leadership Institute is will definitely promote SW Oklahoma worldwide.

Footnote: The North Alabama Veterans and Fraternal Coalition, the Association of the United States Army, the National Defense Industrial Association and the Army Space and Missile Defense Association have joined together to sponsor OPERATION BLUE STAR. Presidents of these organizations include three retired US Army and Viet Nam Veterans. The fourth one is the President of the North Alabama Honor Flight program which flies WWII Veterans to Washington to spend the day visiting the WWII Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the Marine Corps Memorial and the Vietnam Wall memorial. Banners, window placards, and bumper stickers/window decals are available through the OPERATION BLUE STAR program. This friendly invitation to participate in the program was extended by one of the organizational Presidents who lives in Huntsville, Alabama and grew up in Hollis, Oklahoma, Joel F. Thomas, LTC (Ret), US Army. The former Hollis Tiger football player and graduate of OU attached the following after his name, “ …a proud Sooner and proud to be from the Shortgrass Country of Oklahoma.” Thanks, Joel, and our sincere thanks are extended to our friends in Alabama.