Although other states, such as Texas, North Carolina, Arkansas and Ohio now have groups, Dollar said Oklahoma was the first state to begin statewide honoree programs of its kind for veterans.
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Stillwater’ s OMHF chapter was named the“ Lt. Gen. Price Hays Chapter of Payne County.” Lt. Hays was commissioned from Oklahoma A & M College in 1960. He was an artillery officer in WW I and received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his service. In WW II, he served with the 10th Mountain Division, training soldiers to ski mountain passes – the first division of its kind – and served in Italy.
In addition to Stillwater, other chapters include Broken Arrow, Edmond, Enid, Mannford, Moore, Shawnee, Tahlequah, Tulsa, the University of Tulsa, West Oklahoma City and more.
In 2012, the foundation formed a partnership with the Oklahoma History Center. The military exhibit at the History Center features all inductees into the Hall of Fame, which are displayed on an interactive electronic screen that tells each of their stories. Recognition from government officials and dignitaries, as well as news stories, are also on display there.
Although other states, such as Texas, North Carolina, Arkansas and Ohio now have groups, Dollar said Oklahoma was the first state to begin statewide honoree programs of its kind for veterans.
The foundation also seeks to involve youth through the Oklahoma Honors Campaign. The community-based program that recognizes local veterans – organized and managed by middle and high school students groups in classrooms or clubs like 4-H – encourages students to interview veterans and record their stories( the Pathfinder program). They also partner with the Oklahoma CareerTech System to produce the Oklahoma Veterans Film Competition that makes films honoring veterans. Dollar shares more details with the News Press about the foundation, the Hall of Fame and the Hall of Honor.
SOM: What inspired you to start the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame?
DD: Seeing the positive reactions of honorees and their families at the 1999 Reserve Officer Association Dining Out banquet and discovering what we can learn from their stories of heroism and service.
Medal of Honor recipient Master Sgt. Earl Don Plumlee, left, at a Hall of Fame event during which he was honored.
Although other states, such as Texas, North Carolina, Arkansas and Ohio now have groups, Dollar said Oklahoma was the first state to begin statewide honoree programs of its kind for veterans.
SOM: What year did you begin honoring veterans?
DD: In 1999 at the Reserve Officer Association Dining Out banquet, when the U. S. Army Chief of Staff accepted my invitation to speak to our members. As the effort grew, we established the Oklahoma Military Heritage Foundation.
SOM: What types of awards or honors do you give out, and what is your criteria for presenting them to veterans?
DD: The Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame is awarded by a selection committee of veterans organized each year, and the Hall of Honor Award, which was begun in 2023, is awarded by chapters over the state. The criteria is the same for both:
1) The military record of the individual must demonstrate heroic and / or extraordinary leadership action, service, or sacrifice; and principal awards received. These items must be documented on the DD- 214( separation / discharge document or equivalent). In some cases, there may be more than one.
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