From: Commandant, Sooner Detachment #559 Oklahoma City, OK
To: All Volunteers
Subject: MEMORIAL DAY READING OF OKLAHOMA WAR DEAD NAMES
Date of event: Monday, May 29, 2023
Time: 0800 – 1700
Location: Veterans Memorial Park, at Judiciary Building 2100 N. Lincoln Blvd.,
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
In 1986, the Marine Corps League, Sooner Detachment #559 began reading the names of our
Oklahoma War Dead as one of our first community service initiatives. We have continued this
honorable duty for 37 years because we feel it is worthy of our time and efforts to show respect
for our fallen and their families.
Each year, Sooner Detachment invites the local community to participate in the reading as well
as the ceremony performed by the Oklahoma Veterans Council. Every volunteer participant is
recognized with a certificate of appreciation upon completion of their reading.
Historically, we start our Detachment set up at 0700 and are completed by 0730 in order to get
our new members acclimated with the tasks of the day. Once we begin reading, we continue
until all of the Oklahoma War Dead names are read, aloud, on this day. There are thousands of
names and this task usually takes us approximately 8 hours to complete.
We start the reading at 0800 with two members or volunteers. One name at a time, each reader
will alternate reading the names on their specific sheets. The names are read aloud, with the
use of a microphone / PA system. Each reader will continue reading to the end of their specific
sheet which usually takes about 20 minutes.
The next two readers are expected to be standing by watching, listening and prepared to
perform immediately after the group in front of them. There should be little transition time
between readers.
Sooner Detachment volunteers will be assigned a time slot to coordinate readers for the
assigned names. All volunteers are invited to read as many times as they wish. Thank you for
your support!
For additional information please contact Angela Maness (910) 581- 2128 send email with your questions.
http://mcl559.org/di/MCL/v2/default.asp?nid=6
CHECKLIST FOR SOONER DETACHMENT #559
Logistics:
Uniform of the Day: Undress, short sleeve (white shirt/black or dress blue trousers), red cover
OR Detachment Red Polo and black trouser, red cover. Check weather report - NO RAIN!
Capitol Police for Colors: Morning to half-mast until noon. If CP are not available to perform this task,
MCL members will conduct promptly at 0745 prior to official ceremony begins.
Historic Facts regarding Organization Participating since 2021
1. Marine Corps League
2. Down Range Décor
3. Women Veterans Organization
4. Military Women of America
5. Oklahoma Veterans Council
6. Storm Riders Harley Owners Group
7. Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association
8. Sooner State Abate
9. Central OK District Outpost
Volunteers 37 Certificates of Appreciation distributed.
