Retired Gen. Tommy Franks honors ‘patriots’

BY RON JACKSON Comments 2
Published: November 12, 2008
Modified: November 14, 2008 at 5:09 pm

EDMOND — Heroes walked among heroes Tuesday night as 13 Oklahomans were inducted into the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame at Oklahoma Christian University’s Gaylord Center.

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Retired Gen. Tommy Franks, whose roots are deeply embedded in Wynnewood, attended the black-tie gala as a featured speaker and one of the honored inductees. Veterans flocked around the former American and Coalition troop commander in Afghanistan and Iraq for photographs and autographs, but it was Franks who said he was deeply honored by the patriots.

"Isn’t this great?” Franks declared in a familiar booming voice. "You look around at these guys and you look around at their family members ... you realize you don’t have to be a veteran to be a patriot. Patriotism runs in the family ... But we need to respect and honor those who have served.

"They’re what keep us safe when the wolf is at the door.”