Writing With A Piece Of History

Often during the morning show, you may hear my partner Jeri and I promoting local businesses as our "Pen Of The Day." At times, when we are running short on supply for the coming days you hear us jokingly "beg." Never did we expect it to come to what it did the Friday before Christmas, when we were both left speechless by set of pens that we received.

Let me start by saying that the Pen of the Day promotion has been a surprise success and nothing but a joy to the both of us. To know that a little thing that started basically as a joke between the two of us, seeing (we are both pen-a-holics), took on a life of its own and is still running strong; is incredible to both of us. To have so many people and businesses joining us in this silliness each morning is a compliment. Thank you to each and every one of you that have joined us in this project.

With that being said, what we received on Friday, December 19th was amazing. We had received word earlier that week from Doug Walters at Allied Labs that he had some special P-O-D's for us. Doug and Allied Labs were actually the very first pens of the day, supplying us with incredible metal pens that I still use every day. But this time, Doug and Allied blew us away.

Doug presented us each with an individual, hand carved case with our names engraved in our own case (Jeri was amazed that her named was spelled correctly, I was happy mine didn't say Tom Coburn). But what was inside was the true gift; hand carved from the wood from The Witness Tree, a 250 year old burr oak that stood on Ft. Sill until the ice storms of 2011 caused it's death and finally causing it to fall. Wood from this legendary tree had been set aside for special memorabilia to be created in honor of Ft. Sill. We are proud that permission was granted to honor two silly radio people in this manner.

The history of the tree named Silent Witness by the Native American tribes that made their homes along the banks of the Medicine Bluffs Creek and whose villages surrounded the area on which Ft. Sill was established in 1869 can be felt running through these pens. The tree gained its name because it bore "silent witness" to the incidents of the Indian Wars that plagued the area from Ft. Sills establishment until the late 1870s.

The pens were also hand carved from the wood of this historic oak tree as well. Perfectly balanced and smooth to write, these pens go beyond writing instruments; they're inspirational. I am using mine to write this piece. Yes, I am using the pen to write an article about the pen.

But these pens are more than just mere writing instruments; they are more than the greatly appreciated gifts they were intended to be. These are a piece of American history. They are also a reminder. A reminder of the wonderful people I have met here since moving to Lawton. They are a reminder of no matter where I wander, no matter where I roam, in Ft. Sill and Lawton are home.

Jeri and I would like to thank Doug and DeAna Walters for gifting us with these incredible pieces of art and of history. Our gratitude to Doug, DeAna and all the folks at Allied labs for their support of the Morning Krew goes beyond mere words. And for Doug's golfing buddy and true artist John Pratt, your talent in creating these masterpieces is truly breath taking. Thank you all, we hope we can live up to these truly wonderful gifts.