KCA Participates in Nation Vietnam Veterans Day Event

On Friday, March 29, veterans and families gathered at VFW Post 5263 in Lawton, Oklahoma, for National Vietnam Veterans Day to honor those who fought in the Vietnam War.

There were several displays of the war, including one from veteran Leland Parker.

Veteran Chris Killsfirst began the day with a welcoming and then a prayer from Chaplin Ron Mahsetky.

The 77th Army Band played the National Anthem, and a drum group played the flag song.

Tribal princesses signed the Lord's Prayer, including Comanche Nation Princess McKenzi Sovo, Comanche Nation Jr., Princess Vivien Parker and CIVA Princess Arlene Schonchin.

The crowd also joined in to participate in Military Band and Branch Songs.

The City of Lawton would also issue a proclamation for Vietnam Veterans Day.

Guest Speaker Lieutenant Colonel Mike Stoniker talked about his time in Vietnam and becoming a helicopter pilot in the war. He spent 720 days in Vietnam and gave items to the Apache and Comanche tribes.

Veterans and their surviving families were then honored by tribal princesses.

Taps were then played to honor those who died in the war at the event's closing.