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Last year’s Veterans Parade was full of patriotic entries.

The 2021 parade and program begins at 3 p.m. in downtown El Reno on Sunday, Nov. 7.

The parade is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m in downtown El Reno on Sunday, November 7.

Veterans Day, which is celebrated annually on Nov. 11, commemorates the hardworking men and women who sacrifice their time and put themselves in harms way to defend the country’s core values of freedom and opportunity.

While Veterans Day certainly is a chance to honor those who have donned the uniform during wars and military installments, it also can be a chance to recognize the unsung heroes of wartime - those who step into roles so that soldiers and strategists can focus their attention elsewhere.

By Jayla Hamilton
El Reno High School Junior
(Brian Rukes’ AP English 3 class)

Emma C. Niemann was in the Women’s Army Corps, also known as the “WAC” during World War II.

She was born Sept. 11, 1915, in Oklahoma. She attended Sunnyside Rural School and graduated from El Reno High School in 1935.

She was teaching home economics, typing and shorthand to high school students in Springer when she enlisted in the WAC department on Feb. 8, 1944. 

Listed are the 44 El Reno Public Schools students whose names are honored on the Memorial Stadium Monument for paying the ultimate sacrifice from service during
World War II.

The alphabetical list includes ranks and service branches:

George Haynes served in the United States Army in Korea.

James A. Jones served in the U.S. Marine Corps, 1951-1953.

PFC machine gunner in the Korean Conflict.

He was a DAV.

Born March 3, 1933. Died July 7, 2011.

LTC (Retired) AUS Joseph C. Haines Sr.

Haines entered military service on Sept. 9, 1940, when he enlisted in the New Jersey National Guard.

He entered into federal service on Sept. 16, 1940, when all of the National Guard was mobilized due to the war in Europe. He served in various enlisted roles in the Quartermaster, infantry and Cavalry units of the 44th Infantry Division, rising to the rank of corporal.

Thomas E. Pitts died at the age of 74.

He earned a number of honors while serving in the U.S. Army.

“He was my hero.” — Coe Pitts

Lt. James Warren Hurst served in the United States Air Force in World War II.