Saluting veterans, promoting peace<br/><span class='hl2'>•General praises troops for ‘keeping this country free'</span>

As dozens of American and military unit flags flapped in the wind, about 400 Oklahomans gathered Monday outside the 45th Infantry Division Museum to pay tribute to the men and women who have served this country through the armed services.

Maj. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, Oklahoma's adjutant general, praised the service of all Oklahoma veterans, saying one thing that binds all veterans, regardless of the war in which they served, "is the recognition that there is something more important in life than life itself.”

"There is a recognition that there is a purpose to keeping this country free,” Wyatt said.

Wyatt noted Monday's crowd was larger than in recent years, and said that reflects greater discernment on the part of the public.

Reflecting on the abuse that some Vietnam veterans received when they returned from an unpopular war, Wyatt said Americans now do a better job of separating the war from the service member.

"I thank God that this country has matured to the point where we can recognize the difference between a war and a warrior,” he said.

Wyatt made his remarks while standing at the entrance to the 45th Infantry Division Museum, beneath the Thunderbird emblem that many Oklahomans have worn on their sleeves while marching into combat.

The museum pays tribute to the Thunderbird warriors who fought in World War II and Korea.

Meanwhile, the thoughts of many gathered for the Veterans Day ceremony were on a new generation of Thunderbirds. Members of the 45th Infantry Brigade are training at Fort Bliss, Texas, to prepare for deployment in January to Iraq.