Georgia-Pacific To Honor Veterans’ Service To Country, Community In Muskogee

Georgia-Pacific in Muskogee is setting up a special display for Veteran’s Day to honor the men and women at their company who served our country. Many of those veterans played a big part in getting everyone back on their feet again after a fire at the paper mill last year.

The road to the Georgia-Pacific location in Muskogee is paved in stars and stripes.

"It has been a tough year for a lot of people and to be able to show some groups who have come together and really performed, not just for Georgia-Pacific but for the community, I think that is really inspiring," said Jennifer Rector with Georgia-Pacific.

This is just one way the paper mill is saying thank you to the men and women who have served. More than 50 veterans work there, veterans like Tony Hopkins.

"It is generational. My dad worked here. I had several uncles who worked here," said Hopkins.

Hopkins was a Navy Airmen. Now he is the Safety Manager for Georgia-Pacific.

"You want the best for them just like you would want the best for your own family," said Hopkins. 

They have come a long way since May of last year when a fire tore through the plant.

“When you got here and you saw the flames coming out of the building, it was just one of those traumatic situations," said Hopkins.

Hopkins spent that day making sure everyone inside was accounted for and had the medical help they needed. There were no fatalities. Hopkins has been there through the rebuilding process every day since.

"We thought, 'We will never be the same,’” Hopkins said. “To be honest with you, we have started producing in that building again and that line is producing better than the line that was in it before.”

The building is almost complete; it has been modernized and employees said it is even safer than some of the previous lines.

"We have survived this. We have grown past this," said Hopkins. 

"Veteran's Day is obviously a natural time to reflect on integrity and respect, some of the characteristics that I see every day here at our mill," said Rector.