War on terror memorial at the state capitol proposed

Friday, February 4th 2005, 6:12 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The parents of a slain Oklahoma soldier joined state lawmakers to announce plans for a memorial at the State Capitol to honor Oklahomans lost in the War on Terror.

28-year-old Eric Petty of Fort Gibson was killed by small arms fire last May while providing security at a weapons cache in Iraq.

Petty's parents -- Janet and Ron Petty of Oklahoma City -- said Thursday their son would have been proud to be a part of the memorial.

State Representative Gary Banz of Del City is proposing the bill to create a special 10-member committee to plan and design the memorial. The bill authorizes up to $50,000 to be spent on a design contest for the memorial.

Lieutenant Governor Mary Fallin says at least 25 Oklahoma soldiers have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan since the start of the conflicts there.