ENID, OK - Enid’s Woodring Wall of Honor along with the City of Enid present Above & Beyond Memorial Day, a weekend tribute to honor our veterans. On Friday, May 24th, at the David Allen Memorial Ballpark, they will host the Flame of Remembrance Ceremony as part of the opening of the Jr. College World Series. Medal of Honor Spouse, Marilyn Grissett, will light a flame that will be carried around the bases by veterans from WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and active-duty Armed Forces. At home plate, incoming CMSgt Harvey McReynolds will meet two WWII Army Air Corps veterans to lift the flame in honor of all veterans. Both veterans, RD Lawrence, and HB Evans, are 101 years old.
On Saturday, May 25th, at the OK Military History Exhibit at Oakwood Mall in Enid, OK, there will be an open house with family friendly activities! There is a large group of motorcyclists traveling to Enid to lay a wreath at the Vietnam Wall. Then they will travel to the Oakwood Mall to view the military exhibit.
A Medal of Honor ride will be held at the Woodring Wall of Honor and Veterans Park with registration beginning at 9 am. The ride will travel to three gravesites of NW Oklahoma Medal of Honor recipients to include Harold Kiner, Robert Blair and Leon Vance and lay flowers at the sites. The ride will end at the military exhibit where Robert Gober will entertain the crowd from 12-3 pm.
Multiple events will be held at the mall. There is a large sport card trade show, Kelly Tompkins will be conducting an interactive art presentation at 2 pm, they’ll have a multi artist art show at the old Buckle store which includes work from Tox Morillo, Kelly Tompkins, Mark Gray, Rucks Elmore, and Charla Enns. A special car with hand control driving aids will be given away at 3 pm to a worthy veteran. They’ll also have Kayla Bainter’s Little Pink Cart full of cookies, desserts, and snacks along with food trucks and book signings! The free event is held from 11-4 pm and will showcase the Wall of Honor’s military weapons display.
Monday, May 27th is the annual City of Enid Memorial Day Ceremonies honoring the fallen of Oklahoma. Services begin at 10 am at the City of Enid hanger at Woodring Airport.
Above & Beyond Memorial Day Ceremony will also honor four fallen heroes this year. All family members will be in attendance. The Kiowa Black Leggins Honor Society will return to present flags. The keynote speaker is Tom Wozencraft, a Gold Star Father, who will share his “Journey to the Stones.” Lt Christopher Gilmore will give the invocation and benediction prayers and Elise Vanover will perform the National Anthem and sing special music.
Blue Star Mother, Betty Crosswhite, will conduct a Blue to Gold ceremony. Major General Doug Dollar will perform a special presentation to four veterans inducting them into the Oklahoma Hall of Honor, a division of the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame. Lt Col Michael Kissinger will dedicate the living wall additions. Legislative member, Senator Roland Pederson will present citations and City Manager, Jerald Gilbert will be the emcee. Mayor David Mason will welcome the crowd to the ceremony. Taps will be performed by Johnny Greer.
For more information on any of the Memorial Day weekend activities in Enid, contact Elaine Johns at the Woodring Wall of Honor at 580-233-4530.
