Okmulgee Unveils New War Memorial Honoring 296 Servicemen

There is a new war memorial outside the Okmulgee County courthouse, honoring the sacrifices of Oklahoma's own this Veterans Day.

There are 296 names on the granite slabs from five different wars and it is the first war memorial in Okmulgee County.

“It’s really emotional. I had to really, really struggle with that and think I’m doing that for them. I’m doing that for all of them," said Pearl Chalakee Thomas.

Thomas' brother is honored on the wall. Rudy Chalakee is the fourth name listed under the Vietnam War. She remembers the other men whose names are engraved as well. “The little Mcelhannon boy right here was a friend of my little brothers. They grew up together out there in the country. Went to school together," said Thomas.

The idea for the memorial started a few years ago with Tom Payne. “I made a tour around eastern Oklahoma and almost every county and town had a memorial of those that died in different wars. So I thought well surely I can do this," said Payne.

Organizers said Thursday's unveiling ceremony was possible because of Payne's hard work. He raised enough money and gathered all the names of military service members from Okmulgee County who died in the war, to make sure no one is forgotten.