Veterans Plan Ceremony and Rally at Oklahoma State Capitol

Nov. 9, 2011 - PRLog -- OKLAHOMA CITY – November 10, 2011 – The Oklahoma Democratic Party Veterans Committee (ODPVC) will hold a wreath-laying ceremony at the Oklahoma Veterans Memorial on Veterans Day, Friday, November 11 at 2:00pm.

“On this Veterans Day, we seek to honor the service of every American man and woman who has worn the uniform,” said Isaac M. O’Bannon, President of the ODPVC and a Navy Seabee veteran. “Every soldier, sailor, airman, marine and coast guardsman who has served in combat or in peace, and did so knowing what they were offering.”

The Memorial, located at the state capitol just north of the Oklahoma State Supreme Court building, was built to honor Oklahoma’s military veterans, particularly those who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. The wreath, privately donated by an Oklahoma veteran, is intended as a solemn tribute in recognition and remembrance of all veterans.

“Supporting our troops, both those currently serving and those served in years past, should not be a partisan issue,” said O’Bannon. “Yet, with recent budget-cutting goals, some politicians are trying to cut veterans benefits and our own Senator Tom Coburn is among them. I hope that all Oklahomans will urge Senator Coburn to rethink this position. Veterans benefits are not entitlement programs, but are part of the contract that our great nation made with each and every man and woman who has worn the uniform.”

Invited guests include State Senators Jim Wilson, a Marine Corps veteran, and Constance Johnson, a member of the state senate’s Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. Additional speakers include state representative Al McAffrey and Anthony Douglas, the president of the Oklahoma chapter of the NAACP and a retired U.S. Army veteran.

The Oklahoma Democratic Party Veterans Committee is an organization of veterans of the U.S. armed forces and supporting citizens, whose mission is to actively promote and help elect Democratic candidates who are dedicated to supporting and ensuring the well-being of veterans and active duty military personnel. It is one of four official federations of the Oklahoma Democratic Party. More information on the ODPVC is available at http://www.OKDemocrats.org/odpvc.