Lowery-Whitehead Partners With Goodwill for Disposal of American Flags.

As the leader in flag etiquette and the disposal of unserviceable flags, #LoweryWhitehead American Legion Post 29 in Lawton Oklahoma was honored to receive a phone call from Goodwill Industries of Southwest Oklahoma & North Texas, Inc. Special Project Manager Ed Trope (pictured right). Lowery-Whitehead Lawton Sons of the American Legion Squadron 29 commander Chip Bates (pictured left) met with Mr. Trope to pick up the flags so Post 29 can dispose of the flags in a dignified manner. Lowery-Whitehead and Goodwill SONT will meet quarterly to pick up unserviceable flags going forward. 

The Flag Code suggests that, “when a flag has served its useful purpose, it should be destroyed, preferably by burning.”  Lowery-Whitehead American Legion Post 29  conducts a Disposal of Unserviceable Flag Ceremony on June 14, Flag Day, each year. This ceremony creates a particularly dignified and solemn occasion for the disposal of unserviceable flags.

Lowery-Whitehead welcomes all phone calls concerning Flag Etiquette or requests for disposal of unserviceable flags. Post 29 can be reached by phone (405) 300-8330. 

American Legion Department of Oklahoma .
 American Legion Auxiliary Department of Oklahoma Sons of The American Legion

American Legion Department of Oklahoma Officers for 2018-2019

Membership Year 2018 - 2019

​Department Commander: ​Jimmy Ching

​jching@tds.net

​Senior Vice Commander: ​Ron Gott

​rgott1949@gmail.com

​Vice Commander East: ​Sammy Padgett

sammy_p_us@yahoo.com

​Vice Commander West: ​Don Roane

​roanex12@cox.net

​​Department Treasurer: ​Dewey Clapp

​dewclapp@swbell.net

​​Department Judge Advocate: ​Larry Talbott

​larrydt145@aol.com

​​Department Sergeant At Arms: ​John Traffanstedt

​jtraff@gmail.com

​​Department Chaplain: ​Bobby Stewart

​bobbyrs@sbcglobal.net

​​Department Historian: ​Gerald McClain

​geraldmc@suddenlink.net

​National Executive Committeeman: ​Tim Smith

​timsmith1226@sbcglobal.net

​Alternate National Executive Committeeman: ​Don Kuntze

donkuntze@cox.net

​​Department Surgeon: ​John Loose

​john.loose@att.net

​​Department Adjutant: ​Carl Kuykendall

​adjutant@okamlegion.org

https://okamlegion.org/officers

​ ​ ​

Winners List From the American Legion Department of Oklahoma 2018 Summer Convention Drawings

Lowery-Whitehead American Legion Post 29 would like to congratulate the following winners:

Congratulations to the Winners of the "10 Guns Drawing"

Pat K. - Mannford, OK Ruger 380ACP w/Laser

James M. - Kellyville, OK Henry .17 HMR Rifle

Jessica R. - Ochelata, OK Henry .45 Colt Big Boy

Phil H. - Tulsa, OK Henry Lever Action .22 Rifle

Bro B. - Lawton, OK Mossberg 935 Turkey Shotgun

Jessie M. -Jennings, OK SIG Model 1911 We The People 45 ACP

Brian H. - Owasso, OK Thompson .50 Caliber Bone Collector

Brian M. - Blanchard, OK Weatherby PA-08 12Ga

Butch P. - Enid, OK Thompson .50 Caliber Muzzleloader

Eileen B. - Skiatook, OK Ruger AR 556

Lowery-Whitehead American Legion Post 29 Election 2018 Results

Officer elections were held during the Lowery-Whitehead American Legion Post 29 June 20, 2018 general membership meeting. Installation of the newly elected officers will take place after the American Legion Department of Oklahoma Summer Conference July 13-15 2018 in Shawnee, Oklahoma. The date for the Installation of New Officers is set for the July 19, 2018 Post 29 general membership meeting . The election results were as follows:

Commander               Claude F. Bates, Jr.
1st Vice Commander  Miguel Aguilar 
2nd Vice Commander Tony Crisel 
3rd Vice Commander  Richard Limon    
Finance Officer           Gedaliah Scharold
Judge Advocate          Charles Crisel 
Executive Committee Chairmen Tom Buckley, Jim Marsh, Red Redmond 
Veteran Service Officer William S. Trice II

Congratulations to all Lowery-Whitehead American Legion Post 29's Officers elect.

Lowery-Whitehead American Legion Post 29 Flag Day June 14, 2018

Lowery-Whitehead American Legion Post 29 Commander Claude F. Bates, Jr.

during Post 29's June 14, 2018 Flag Day Ceremony in Lawton, Oklahoma  

“A Flag may be a flimsy bit of printed gauze, or a beautiful banner of finest silk. Its intrinsic value may be trifling or great; but its real value is beyond price, for it is a precious symbol of all that we and our comrades have worked for, lived for, and died for: a free Nation of free men, true to the faith of the past, devoted to the ideals and practice of Justice, Freedom and Democracy," ~ Lowery-Whitehead American Legion Post 29 Commander Claude F. Bates, Jr. during the June 14, 2018 Unserviceable Flag Ceremony held in front of the Post 29 building in Lawton, Oklahoma. The purpose of The American Legion in adopting this ceremony was to encourage proper respect for the Flag of the United States and to provide for disposal of unserviceable flags in a dignified manner. The ceremony has been an integral part of American Legion ritual since it was adopted the during the 19th National Convention of The American Legion held in New York, Sept. 20-23, 1937. 

Lowery-Whitehead American Legion Post 29 3rd Vice Commander

 Richard Limon visits with members of  the Lawton, Ok community 

Lowery-Whitehead invited members of the Lawton Fort Sill community to attend the Unserviceable Flag Ceremony and to enjoy a community cook out afterwards. Sons of the American Legion Squadron 29 member Junior Mendietta manned the grill and served up hamburgers for the public to enjoy while members of the post visited with those in attendance.  American Legion Post 29 hopes to see this tradition grow as in continues in the future. For more information about Lowery-Whitehead American Legion Post 29  contact the post in person: 605 SW 11th St. in Lawton, Oklahoma, by phone (580) 353-5015, email: AmericanLegionLawton@gmail.com. or visit: facebook.com/AmericanLegionLawton. Find more photos of Post 29's 2018 Flag Day by visiting: our online photo album

Lowery-Whitehead American Legion Post 29 Selects Oklahoma Boys State Delegate

Joshua Boothe (L) receiving letter of congratulations
on his selection to Oklahoma Boys State from
Lowery-Whitehead Commander Claude F. Bates, Jr.

(Lawton, Oklahoma)
Lowery-Whitehead American Legion Post 29 announced its selection for Oklahoma Boys State as MacArthur High School junior Joshua Boothe. 

“Young men like Mr. Boothe are the future leaders of America,” said Claude F. Bates, Jr. , commander of Lowery-Whitehead American Legion Post 29.  “We feel Joshua has the outstanding qualifications in character and leadership to attend one of the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction ever designed for high school students.”

High school juniors are selected in early spring by local American Legion posts to attend the program, which will be held at the campus of NEO A&M College in Miami, Oklahoma  from May 26 – June 2, 2018

“It is a participatory program where each young man becomes a part of the operation of his local, county and state government,” said Bates.

Lowery-Whitehead American Legion Post 29 would like to sponsor one high school junior from each of the three Lawton, Oklahoma high schools (Lawton High School, Eisenhower High School, and MacArthur High School) and one junior from Cache High School for the 2019 session of Oklahoma Boys State.

“I encourage the entire community – and in particular high school counselors, community leaders and business owners – to submit their recommendations for candidates to attend The American Legion 2019 Boys State program,” said Post 29 Commander Claude F. Bates, Jr.

Download an application at: Lowery-Whitehead American Legion Post 29 Oklahoma Boys State Application

To Learn more about how to apply for Oklahoma Boys State contact Lowery-Whitehead American Legion Post 29 call: (580)353-5015, email: AmericanLegionLawton@gmail.com

or visit facebook.com/AmericanLegionLawton.

Funeral Honors: “Honoring Those Who Serve”

Honor line at Fort Sill National Cemetery in Elgin, Oklahoma
Lowery-Whitehead American Legion Post 29 Commander Claude F. Bates, Jr
 (2nd from top on left), District 6 Commander Mark Barker,
District 6 Vice Commander (bottom right)

The American Legion has performed thousands of burial ceremonies annually for the families of Veterans since its inception in 1919. This will not change. It is one of the nation’s most hallowed events. The Legion’s dignified participation  reflects the professionalism of the organization and further leaves a lasting impression on everyone in attendance. Over the years, the organization has adopted certain ways and means that may differ from other Veteran groups. This does not mean they are wrong or improper, just different. 

In the event of a veteran’s death, an authorized provider of military funeral honors will speak with the deceased’s family. They will then contact Lowery-Whitehead American Legion Post 29 in Lawton, Oklahoma or the deceased's local post to make arrangements. In the Lawton, Oklahoma area,  Post 29 will then coordinate with the service provider to provide an Honor Line or Honor Guard as requested.

It is the sacred obligation of all Americans to honor our deceased Veterans by performing these time honored duties in the best tradition of the decedent’s Service. America’s Veterans like Lowery-Whitehead American Legion Post 29 are helping to fulfill that obligation by supplementing the effort of the Military Services. To learn more, contact American Legion Post 29 by phone: (580)353-5015, email: AmericanLegionLawton@gmail.com, or visit:

facebook.com/AmericanLegionLawton. Ask to speak with our Service Officer: William S. Trice II or Post 29 Adjutant: Charles Baker.