Chief Gary Batton, right, presents a thank you gift to keynote speaker retired Oklahoma National Guard Col. Bobby Yandell Jr. during the 2022 Choctaw Veterans Day Ceremony Nov. 11 at Tvshka Homma.
Choctaw Veterans Honored on Veterans Day
Published November 30, 2022TVSHKA HOMMA, Okla. – The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma (CNO) honored its service men and women at the 2022 Annual Veterans Day Ceremony. Veterans, their families, and supporters filled the Arts & Crafts Building on the Choctaw Capitol Grounds at Tvshka Homma on Nov. 11.
Assistant Chief Jack Austin Jr. emceed the event which saw Choctaw veterans, including a 96-year-old World War II veteran, honored with performances by Choctaw Nation District 2 Singers, and The Lord’s Prayer delivered in sign language by Choctaw princesses.
Veterans were asked to stand when the Talihina High School Marching Band played a Salute to America’s Finest, songs from each of the service branches.
Chief Gary Batton, commenting on the patriotic ceremony, said, “If that doesn’t make you proud to be a Choctaw, an Oklahoman, and an American, I don’t know what does.”
Retired Oklahoma National Guard Col. Bobby Yandell Jr., executive director of the Housing Authority of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, presented the keynote address. Yandell said that he was humbled to be speaking on such an important occasion. He offered a brief history of Veterans Day before delivering a story of his own military experience in combat, which included three deployments to Afghanistan. Just as it is in the Choctaw Nation, he said, military life is about “servant leadership.”
The program was closed out by the Choctaw Honor Guard firing a 21-gun salute and a bugler playing Taps.
Inquiries may be made about veterans’ services by contacting the Choctaw Nation Veterans Advocacy Department’s Senior Program Manager Harlan Wright at 580-642-8451.