Vernon, the historic community on the western edge of McIntosh County, has joined the ranks of Oklahoma’s Purple Heart communities.
The event was celebrated on Saturday, Feb. 22, beginning at 1 p.m. with a ceremony that was capped with a meal provided by the town.
“The Town of Vernon was recognized as a Purple Heart Town in honor of the sacrifices and service of its veterans and a special tribute to those who paid the ultimate price for Freedom,” noted Mayor George Dozier.
The Color Guard posted the colors and led the group in the pledge of allegiance and the opening prayer.
Don Nichols of the Military Order of the Purple Heart addressed the group.
Nichols has made it his mission to ensure American Veterans from the historic black towns get the recognition they deserve.
Mayor George Dozier Jr. gave the acceptance speech.
The dinner and ceremony were hosted by a joint collaboration of the Town of Vernon, The Vernon Chamber of Commerce Inc. and the Vernon Charitable Foundation Inc.
Clarence L. Baccus Jr., Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, thanked everyone for coming out to honor the Vernon Veterans and told everyone that this was the first of many joint collaborations between the three organizations. He then led the group in the meal prayer and everyone began enjoying a feast of BBQ ribs, BBQ chicken, BBQ brisket, baked beans, BBQ beans, smoked jalapeno cheddar brats, potato salad, tossed salad, hot rolls, homemade cherry pie, and Dallas’ Chef Jamie’s famous Almond Cake, which was a big hit with all the guests – they couldn’t get enough of it. Everybody went back for seconds.
The dinner was planned so that guests could take plates home with them and most did just that.
Nichols said it was an amazing event.
On Dec. 7, historically black towns in Oklahoma were declared Purple Heart towns to honor the veterans who lived there. Each town’s leaders gathered at the Muskogee MLK community center for the ceremony.
Organizer Donald Nichols said he did this to thank the man who saved his life in combat.
Nichols said he served in the Marines in Vietnam for two years. During the event, Nichols said he wanted to thank a man he never got to thank.
“I was shot four times; I was shot in the chest, shot in the hip. I had a chest wound which was life-threatening,” said Nichols.
Nichols said it was a black man who saved him from those life-threatening injuries. He searched for 60 years to find him but wasn’t successful.
Vernon was plotted October 4, 1910, and established in June 1911 as an all-black community, it became an incorporated town in 2005 and is one of thirteen remaining All Black towns of Oklahoma. It was named for Bishop William Tecumseh Vernon of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
