Today is a special day for me.  Not only is it a day to celebrate our armed forces, it is a day to reflect on how proud I am to be an American!  

Yes, today is Armed Forces Celebration Day.  Here in Lawton / Ft. Sill and many other cities across our great land will have celebrations in kind.

Some will be big and extravogant, others will be small and intimate.  But no matter which you are going to be a part of, the pride that swells in your heart when you see "our" service men and women in uniform will over whelm you.

The Lawton Ft. Sill Chamber of Commerce is putting our celebration on and have worked hard over the last few months to get ready for this special day.

Lawton /Ft. Sill is no stranger to the military.  We love our Soldiers (Sailors, Airmen and Marines as well.)  This is the one day set aside each year to pay tribute to them.  No matter which branch they are in!

There will be a parade in downtown Lawton Starting at 10am.   The parade will start on C Ave & 6th Street heading west to 11th St, north to Ferris Ave, and end in Elmer Thomas Park. There will be an Armed Forces Appreciation Day following the parade in Elmer Thomas Park. This will include music, food and fun.

I am a  retired Sailor.  I know what these men and women go through.   I was deployed many times during my 22 years and I know first hand of the sacrifices that they make not only for thier Country but thier families as well.

I hope you will come out and support "our" Armed Forces Day Celebration at some point today.  If you cannot make it out, stop for a moment and say a quick prayer of thanks for our military.  Also pray for their continued safety as they protect us day in and day out.  Sometimes thousands of miles away.

To all of my fellow military past, present and future, I salute you!

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