New Marines Enlist In Front Of Retired Tulsa Veterans

Four newly-enlisted Marines pledged their service in front of a group of Tulsa veterans as a way to honor Memorial Day.

It's the first time this has happened during the Inverness Village's annual Memorial Day celebrations.

For Joshua Lor, enlisting in front of a group of veterans on Memorial Day is something he'll never forget.

"I'm honored more than anything," he said.

Inverness Village is a senior living community that's home to around 100 veterans - making holidays like Memorial Day even more important.

Army Colonel Thomas Allen helped organize the event.

"The opportunity to have four young Marines taking the oath of office in front of all the other veterans seemed very special to us," said Army Colonel Thomas, who helped organize the event.

The four new Marines took their oath in front of Retired Major, Larry Johnston, who said Memorial Day can sometimes be hard.

"In fact, this day I had a hard time. You know, officers can cry, military people can cry, so I shed some tears today," he said.

It was all for a day that's bittersweet - remembering those that never came home, and celebrating the young men dedicating their lives to their country.

Johnston remembers when he enlisted.

"That was 1969. I had no idea what lay ahead of me, that I would be involved in carpet bombing, that I would be at the embassy in Cairo Egypt, that I would be in Germany and all over the world," he said.

Since then, he said he's never really taken off his uniform; and said ceremonies like Monday’s remind him why he joined.

"We have something very, very, precious, and it's worth fighting for," Johnston said.

It’s a legacy Lor is proud to follow.

"I want to appreciate and value and honor everyone who came before me, and I feel the gravity of it more than ever,” he said.