Oklahoma Wing Goes Live on Air to Honor Veterans
Top: (L-R) Katy Kramer from KTUL interviewing Cadet Lt. Col Bailey Lunsford and Cadet Airman First Class Chloe Shannon
live on the set of KTUL Channel 8’s Good Day Tulsa. (Photos: SM Tamara Shannon, Oklahoma Wing)
by 1st Lt. Brandon Lunsford, Sr, CAP, Oklahoma Wing
TULSA, Okla. – On December 13, 2019, two Oklahoma Wing Riverside Flight cadets went live on local newscast to invite the public to join their unit in laying wreaths on National Wreaths Across America Day. The ceremony took place at Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa.
Good Day Tulsa, KTUL Channel 8’s midmorning live telecast anchored by Katy Kramer, hosted the cadets at approximately 8:30 a.m., with the broadcast beginning at 9:25 a.m.
Cadet Lt. Col. Bailey Lunsford and Cadet Airman First Class Chloe Shannon tackled the world of live television in support of honoring veterans.
"Wreaths Across America is a beautiful ceremony that happens nationwide to honor our country's heroes," Kramer began. “This morning we are very happy to welcome two cadets to the studio. We've got Cadet Lt. Col. Bailey Lunsford and Cadet Airman First Class Chloe Shannon. They are here this morning to tell us about the event, and both are members of the Jenks Riverside Flight, Oklahoma Wing, Civil Air Patrol. Ladies, welcome.”
“Bailey, I want to talk about Civil Air Patrol,” Kramer continued. “What is this, for people who don't know or who have never heard of this. Tell our viewers what you guys do."
Top: (L-R) Katy Kramer from KTUL interviewing Cadet Lt. Col Bailey Lunsford and Cadet Airman First Class Chloe Shannon
live on the set of KTUL Channel 8’s Good Day Tulsa. (Photos: SM Tamara Shannon, Oklahoma Wing)
"Civil Air Patrol is the civilian auxiliary of the Air Force,” Lunsford answered. “It is a nationwide program and each state has its own Wing. So, we are part of Oklahoma Wing. Civil Air Patrol has three main missions; which are cadet programs, aerospace education, and emergency services. With cadet programs we meet weekly. We teach cadets leadership skills, discipline and much more. We learn about how airplanes fly and things like that. With aerospace education we get to fly in airplanes, and even learn how to fly. It is fun."
“You're probably looking at these ladies and thinking, oh, they’re very young,” Kramer said. “That's because they are: 17 and 14. I want to ask you, Chloe, at 14, what made you decide to join?"
"Well, I really want to join the military eventually,” Shannon replied. “And I'm too young to do ROTC at the high school. This was pretty much one of the best options for me."
"You both get to take part in a really special ceremony that's happening for the first time [at Memorial Park Cemetery] here in Oklahoma, and that's Wreaths Across America,” Kramer said. “So, tell us about the event that is taking place tomorrow."
"Yes ma’am,” Lunsford said. “So, it is our first time at Memorial Park Cemetery off 51st and Memorial. It's going to be really fun. [U.S. Rep.] Kevin Hern is going to be our guest speaker. We are placing Christmas wreaths on the graves of veterans. We are going to have a special ceremony for Albert Schwab, Tulsa's only Medal of Honor recipient."
In the Pacific during World War II, PFC Albert Schwab quickly took action when his company was pinned down by enemy machine-gun fire from a high ridge to its front. Because of the terrain, he made a frontal assault skillfully deploying his flame thrower and wiped out the hostile gun position. When a second Japanese machine gun opened up, killing and wounding several Marines, he unhesitatingly continued his one-man assault and succeeded in destroying the second enemy gun position.
Though mortally wounded, he successfully destroyed two enemy gun positions. His dauntless single-handed efforts throughout enhanced the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Watch the video interview at https://bit.ly/2QtSbml
Follow the adventures of Riverside Flight at Facebook.com/RiversideOK.CAP.
Find an Oklahoma Civil Air Patrol unit near you here:
https://bit.ly/2JsJu9h
For More Information:
Civil Air Patrol, the longtime all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary, is the newest member of the Air Force’s Total Force. In this role, CAP operates a fleet of 560 aircraft, performs about 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of more than 80 lives annually. CAP’s 66,000 members also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. In addition, CAP plays a leading role in aerospace/STEM education, and its members serve as mentors to over 28,000 young people participating in CAP’s Cadet Programs. Visit www.GoCivilAirPatrol.com or www.CAP.news for more information.
