May 31, 2019 Issue, Page 10 of 17

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| “| \V See Community page 5 Serving Western Oklahoma WEEKEND Since 1901 EDITION Friday, May 31,2019 We haved moved By Don Munsch Editor More changes are afoot for The Elk City News. We are moving into a new home. But it won't be far away ~just down the street, in fact. ‘The newspaper’s office is moving from 206 W. Broadway to 109 W. Broadway, just west of the corner of Main Street and Broadway Avenue. We expect to be in our new digs by the endofthis week. Our telephone number will remain the same: 580-225- 3000. And our operating hours will be the same, too: 8:30-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with the office closed on most holidays. Readers will be able to drop by and pick up a copy of the paper at the new address. The newspaper is working on getting a new sign. ‘The newspaper recently announced a new website: http:// www.elkcityoknews.com/. Other aspects ofthe operation also will remain the same, as the newspaper will continue to publish on Tuesdays and Fridays. For more information, please call 580-225-3000. Graduates Tom Mike Johnson delivers the keynote address at the Memorial Day service Monday at Fairlawn Cemetery in Elk City. Johnson’s speech touched on the importance of helping veterans. Staff photo by Don Munsch. look to future Memorial Day service honors veterans By Don Munsch Veterans Memorial at understand the ideas and died. Editor Fairlawn Cemetery. “If you values that service people “I miss those soldiers and I count those up, we're talking died defending, Johnson said. keep their memories alive in ‘The combined population almost 3 million, which is Sadly, though, Americans my heart,” he said. “I relate of Oklahoma City and Tulsa almost the same amount as have lost connection with this to you because these are Elk City High School senior class president Matthew compares with the number the state of Oklahoma.” Memorial Day’s meaning, he some of the burdens of war Stout talked about his life during a speech at the high of people who have died in These combatants were said. For too many people, ~ the emotional and physical school’s graduation May 24 at the Pioneer Center conflicts since the founding of “people woven into the fabric ‘Memorial Day has come to be scars that veterans carry, Arena. Staff photo by Don Munsch. Staff photo by Don the United States, Tom Mike of our communities all over part of a three-day weekend that their families carry. Munsch. Johnson informed attendees the country,” Johnson said, and a major shopping day. While Memorial Day is about By Don Munsch of the Memorial Day service and they were loved and “The reality of what we those who died, you should Editor Monday morning at Fairlawn missed. should take to heart on understand it is for those Cemetery in Elk City. For decades, Memorial Memorial Day is that we are people still living and left Matthew Stout faced many struggles in the years before Johnson, a retired Day was a day around the able to be here today partly behind.” be made it to his senior year. lieutenant colonel in the country in which stores were thanks to those who aren’t Johnson pointed out how “Standing up here, I’m not all the same person I was my Army who lives in Elk City, closed and people gathered and can’t be,” he said. President Abraham Lincoln ninth grade year, or honestly, any year before that,” said gave the keynote speech at for a time of parades and Johnson, 75, a former Elk stood before a war-weary Stout, in his Elk City High School senior class president the service and offered that celebrations and ceremonies City commissioner, did a nation during the Civil War speech May 24 at the Elk City graduation at the Pioneer number — about 1.3 million— at cemeteries, Johnson said. one-year tour in the Vietnam and uttered these words Center Arena. The ECHS class of 2019 featured 137 as a way to inform people of “In some places, these War and was a professional about veterans: “Care for graduates, according to the school. the sheer magnitude of the ceremonies still continue,” infantry officer and led a him who shall have borne He described how he lacked friends to sit with during human cost of war. Johnson said. rifle company. He discussed the battle and for his widow lunch every day growing up or kids to chat with at school. “That doesn’t count the Attendees’ presence his experiences leading and his orphan.” [The words He said he was different from other boys, didn’t like who he people who are wounded on Monday meant they those soldiers, including his come from Lincoln’s second was and that others didn’t understand or care about him. or missing,” he said at understand the meaning of memories of the soldiers who But his life changed in his ninth grade, attributing his the ceremony, held at the Memorial Day and that they were badly wounded and See Memorial Day page 2. turnaround to people who loved and supported him. He said the kids he hated before or who had bullied him were now his friends, as he recalled times when they hung out late nights and in early in the morning. ‘Aladdin’ provides outlet “We started talking about the future and how we wanted to stay friends after high school,” Stout said. He encouraged his classmates to live their life to the fullest, such as taking risks and ensuring they tell others who mean everything to them that they love them. The play will be performed including Mills - who are “Most ofall, do what God told us to do —love,” he said, at at 7:30 p.m. June 7 and 8 youths of relatively the same explaining that extends to people who will be different from and at 2:30 p.m. June 9 at the age without disabilities who them. Susan Powell Auditorium. volunteer to help the artist Stout thanked everyone who made a difference in his life Tickets are $10 for adults and every step of the way. They and then said he had forgiven those who wronged him, and $5 for students. help with line memorization he apologized to those he had mistreated. ‘The Penguin Project, a and choreography and In her valedictory speech, Reagan Benton also thanked national program that started provide moral support and those important in her life, including her family and in Peoria, IIL, allows young friendship. educators. artists with developmental “They may whisper a “{t really does take a village and I feel very grateful to disabilities a chance to line into their ear or help have grown up in Elk City,” she said, perform in stage productions. them face out toward Benton’s speech revolved around success, and she said ever since her cousin’s high school graduation, when Benton Roles are filled by performers the audience,” said stage was in first grade, she wanted to be one of the people to give with various conditions, such manager Tomara Armstrong. as autism, Down syndrome, “It’s a little unique in that aspeech at graduation. “Since then, I studied hard to be here,” she said, adding intellectual disabilities, they have help with them that hard work and determination will help people reach learning disabilities and on stage, but it’s not a their goals. She hopes classmates will be encouraged to set other neurological and distraction. Like when you big goals and will have perseverance to meet those goals. David Word rehearses for his part as Aladdin in “Disney’s developmental disorders. watch the production, it kind Benton ruminated on the idea of success, explaining “true “There’s no limit to the of falls into the background. success comes from failure.” She said success is not defined Aladdin Jr” Tuesday night at the Lincoln Teen Center with mentor Paige Lane standing by. The production will disability,” show director You really don’t notice it that by material possession but in an accomplish of a certain aim be done June 7-9 at the Susan Powell Auditorium, 700 W. and choreographer Tiphani much.” or purpose. Second St.,in Elk City. Staff photo by Don Munsch. Currell said, adding that kids Organizers said the “On that note, you will have success even if the world does don’t have to be officially program offers a supportive not view your accomplishment as success,” she said. By Don Munsch “Disney’s Aladdin Jr.” serves diagnosed, explaining that if and safe environment for Benton pointed to her success on the tennis court in spite Editor a dual purpose for him: The parents think their child is an children with disabilities to of injuries. She said success is based on perspective. production allows him to artist, then they are included. _ explore their creative talents “Ultimately, you're the only one who can tell yourself that Ben Mills said performing —_focus on his passion while The actors are while enhancing you've been successful because you're the only one that in The Sagebrush Penguin _allowing him to give back to accompanied on stage Project’s production of the community. by a group of mentors - See Aladdin page 3. See Graduation page 2. il Il Mtl HUAI Weather Q /6 5 Vol. 117,No.44 Home delivery View online « sores aot » tomorrow . 75 cents,12 pgs. 580.225.3000 ecdailynewsonline.com