NEWS
Celebration of Freedom 2021 a Success
Thank You from the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum
For Immediate Release: May 25, 2021
(Hobart, Okla.) – The General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum would like to extend a ‘thank you’ to the community for attending and volunteering at Celebration of Freedom, making the 13th annual event a success. In addition, many generous supporters donated to the event and to the virtual and silent auctions as well as purchased those items in support of leadership and educational programming conducted by the Museum.
Celebration of Freedom was created to recognize, honor and thank military service men and women. This year the focus of the Veteran’s Spotlight was on the Purple Heart. The Oklahoma Department of Military Order of the Purple Heart Commander Larry Van Schuyver and Director of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs Joe Kinstel attended the Veteran’s Spotlight in addition to Hobart Mayor Jeff Allen, Hobart City Manager Ashley Slaughterback, Mountain Park Mayor Adam Ney and Lone Wolf Mayor Renae Vitale to designate the City of Hobart and Kiowa County as a Purple Heart city and county.
There are 205 Purple Heart recipients in the county with 90 from the Hobart area. Hobart resident Lou Sims created a research booklet to recognize the recipients for this year’s program and the city and county proclamations. The printed booklet is available for purchase at the Museum Store for $5 each.
“The event was full of fun and entertainment for all ages as well as special time honoring and remembering our veterans,” said D’Lese Travis, executive director of the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum. “We appreciate our loyal friends, donors and the community who help us fulfill our mission every day. We hope everyone will join us for next year’s event, scheduled for May 20-21, 2022.”
Sidewalk Chalk Contest Winners
Elementary Winners:
1st place: Cooper Gray, Jasmyn Lee, Chase Gray, Kalyan Lee, & Koy Suanny
2nd place: Lydia Toro & Emilee Bondurant
3rd place: Katelynn Brown & Kaylee Vester
High School Winners:
1st Place: Kendall VanHorn, Kaylie Mann, Zach Robinson & Xanna Lankford
2nd place: Deanna Whitson & Dianna Whitson
3rd place: Jayci McMurray & Lexi Holmes
Lil' Mr. & Miss Celebration of Freedom Pageant Winners
Payton Hernandez, daughter of Aaron and Hayley
Izaya Patton, son of Carissa Jenkins
Adalynn King, daughter of Nikki King
Diesel Knight, son of Derek and Christine
Euneva Walls, daughter of Amber Ambroser
Reines William Orrell, son of Jarrett and Sierra
Car Show Winners
1st place: 1965 Chevy II Nova Wagon – Kenneth Edgar
2nd place: 1969 Camaro SS – Larry Wilson
3rd place: 1963 Ford Falcon Futura – Becky Waldroop
Motorcycle Show-N-Shine Winners
Best of Show: 2017 883 Harley Davidson Sportster – Josh Cramer
American: 2019 Harley Street Glide “Ultra”– Celso Cardona
Metric: 1986 Honda Magna – Joe
Parade Winners
Parade Grand Marshal: Purple Heart recipient Gene Williams
Adult
1st place: Gene Williams, Parade Grand Marshall & Purple Heart Recipient
2nd place: Kiowa Black Leggings Color Guard
3rd place: 77th Army Band from Ft Sill, Oklahoma
Children
1st place: Cast of Orphans for the play “Annie” currently playing at the Shortgrass Theater in Hobart
2nd place: MacArthur High School JROTC from Lawton, Oklahoma
3rd place: Lani Kauahquo, Kiowa & Ponca Tribe Pow Wow Princess
For future information regarding Celebration of Freedom, visit CelebrationOfFreedom.com. Celebration of Freedom 2021 was sponsored by Interbank, Planters Co-Operative Association, Diamondback Harley-Davidson, Stockmans Bank, Arca Continental Southwest Beverages, Shawnee Mills, Wilmes Superstore, Ray & Martha’s Funeral Home, Cummins Auto Group, Dr. Jay Kruska, Hobart Kiwanis, Jack Hogg Insurance Agency, Lonnie Olson Edward Jones, Lou Sims, Lynn Chandler Publishing, Tana Blevins CPA and William & Amy Sims.
Note to media: Accompanying photos are available for download here.
Thank You from the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum
For Immediate Release: May 25, 2021
(Hobart, Okla.) – The General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum would like to extend a ‘thank you’ to the community for attending and volunteering at Celebration of Freedom, making the 13th annual event a success. In addition, many generous supporters donated to the event and to the virtual and silent auctions as well as purchased those items in support of leadership and educational programming conducted by the Museum.
Celebration of Freedom was created to recognize, honor and thank military service men and women. This year the focus of the Veteran’s Spotlight was on the Purple Heart. The Oklahoma Department of Military Order of the Purple Heart Commander Larry Van Schuyver and Director of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs Joe Kinstel attended the Veteran’s Spotlight in addition to Hobart Mayor Jeff Allen, Hobart City Manager Ashley Slaughterback, Mountain Park Mayor Adam Ney and Lone Wolf Mayor Renae Vitale to designate the City of Hobart and Kiowa County as a Purple Heart city and county.
There are 205 Purple Heart recipients in the county with 90 from the Hobart area. Hobart resident Lou Sims created a research booklet to recognize the recipients for this year’s program and the city and county proclamations. The printed booklet is available for purchase at the Museum Store for $5 each.
“The event was full of fun and entertainment for all ages as well as special time honoring and remembering our veterans,” said D’Lese Travis, executive director of the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum. “We appreciate our loyal friends, donors and the community who help us fulfill our mission every day. We hope everyone will join us for next year’s event, scheduled for May 20-21, 2022.”
Sidewalk Chalk Contest Winners
Elementary Winners:
1st place: Cooper Gray, Jasmyn Lee, Chase Gray, Kalyan Lee, & Koy Suanny
2nd place: Lydia Toro & Emilee Bondurant
3rd place: Katelynn Brown & Kaylee Vester
High School Winners:
1st Place: Kendall VanHorn, Kaylie Mann, Zach Robinson & Xanna Lankford
2nd place: Deanna Whitson & Dianna Whitson
3rd place: Jayci McMurray & Lexi Holmes
Lil' Mr. & Miss Celebration of Freedom Pageant Winners
Payton Hernandez, daughter of Aaron and Hayley
Izaya Patton, son of Carissa Jenkins
Adalynn King, daughter of Nikki King
Diesel Knight, son of Derek and Christine
Euneva Walls, daughter of Amber Ambroser
Reines William Orrell, son of Jarrett and Sierra
Car Show Winners
1st place: 1965 Chevy II Nova Wagon – Kenneth Edgar
2nd place: 1969 Camaro SS – Larry Wilson
3rd place: 1963 Ford Falcon Futura – Becky Waldroop
Motorcycle Show-N-Shine Winners
Best of Show: 2017 883 Harley Davidson Sportster – Josh Cramer
American: 2019 Harley Street Glide “Ultra”– Celso Cardona
Metric: 1986 Honda Magna – Joe
Parade Winners
Parade Grand Marshal: Purple Heart recipient Gene Williams
Adult
1st place: Gene Williams, Parade Grand Marshall & Purple Heart Recipient
2nd place: Kiowa Black Leggings Color Guard
3rd place: 77th Army Band from Ft Sill, Oklahoma
Children
1st place: Cast of Orphans for the play “Annie” currently playing at the Shortgrass Theater in Hobart
2nd place: MacArthur High School JROTC from Lawton, Oklahoma
3rd place: Lani Kauahquo, Kiowa & Ponca Tribe Pow Wow Princess
For future information regarding Celebration of Freedom, visit CelebrationOfFreedom.com. Celebration of Freedom 2021 was sponsored by Interbank, Planters Co-Operative Association, Diamondback Harley-Davidson, Stockmans Bank, Arca Continental Southwest Beverages, Shawnee Mills, Wilmes Superstore, Ray & Martha’s Funeral Home, Cummins Auto Group, Dr. Jay Kruska, Hobart Kiwanis, Jack Hogg Insurance Agency, Lonnie Olson Edward Jones, Lou Sims, Lynn Chandler Publishing, Tana Blevins CPA and William & Amy Sims.
Note to media: Accompanying photos are available for download here.