A Tribute to the "Veterans of Foreign Wars"

Poem by Tony McGrew VFW POST 8706 MOORE, OKLAHOMA

Tony McGrew doesn’t really consider himself much of a poet, but he has been passionate about serving his fellow veterans for as long as he can remember. Recently, as he dealt with significant personal health issues, that passion led him to pen the following lines of praise:

YOU WERE THE ONE STANDING ON THE WALL. AS LONG AS YOU STOOD IT WOULD NOT FALL. YOU ANSWERED THE CALL TO GIVE YOUR ALL. STANDING ON THE WALL.

THE THIN RED LINE THAT SURROUNDS OUR LAND LAID DOWN BY OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO WORE OUR COLORS, TOUCHED BY GOD’S OWN HAND IS STILL INTACT BECAUSE OF YOU.

YOUR SACRIFICE FOR OUR LAND WILL BE REMEMBERED BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS TOLD AT GATHERINGS ON REMBERANCE DAYS.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU FROM THIS DAY FORWARD AND FOREVER.

McGrew said, “You know, every year when Memorial Day and Veterans Day comes around, I find myself thinking about the ceremonies we gather for to honor our veterans. This was just something special I wanted to do to honor my brothers and sisters that I hadn’t done before.”

The Veterans of Foreign Wars roots can be traced back to 1899, following the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection. When many veterans returned home wounded or sick, there was no medical care or pension available for them. Some of them banded together and formed chapters in Ohio, Colorado and Pennsylvania. Today, membership stands at more than 1.5 million members. Congress officially chartered the VFW in 1936, under the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

McGrew also hopes folks will remember that veterans play key roles all throughout the Moore community.

“We ARE your community,” said McGrew. “We are your police officers, your EMTs, your electricians and plumbers. We’re the ones who help meet all kinds of needs in our community.”

A few years back, McGrew was instrumental in helping the Westmoore marching band obtain a generator for their on-field performances. He also points out that the VFW rallied to help veterans impacted by Moore’s devastating tornadoes, distributing around $50,000 in support.

“The Moore VFW post has been around for as long as I’ve been alive,” said McGrew, “And I believe 2024 might be the 75th anniversary. We’ll be here to support veterans and the Moore community for a long, long time after I’m gone.”

The VFW also serves Moore in other ways, including the regular “Day of Service” and the “Voice of Democracy Essay Contest.”

“High school students can compete to win a $35,000 college scholarship,” said McGrew. “And middle schoolers can win $5,000.”

Applications for the 2023-2024 contest must be submitted by midnight, October 31. For more information on the contest, visit vfw.org

Moore Firefighter Embraces the Family Business

"It was always in the back of my mind," said Powell. "Back in the day, I'd go to the station with my dad and work the whole shift with him. I would sleep there with the guys, eat with them, all that stuff. Moreover, I saw how much they loved the job."

As a nine-year-old, those were impressive images. Powell says they stuck with him as he grew to the point where he still would have ended up in a firehouse even if his soccer career had taken off.

"The thing I love is just helping the public," said Powell. "Being able to respond to them and help them out in a way that's hopefully, you know, beneficial to them and kind of just the whole team aspect of firefighting is what, you know, kind of drew me to it."

Powell's journey to the Moore Fire Department involved working in an ambulance and an emergency room in Norman. That allowed him to see all sides of the first responder world as an EMT. He says joining the department in Moore has been a perfect fit. Moreover, as a corporal, he sometimes finds himself behind the wheel of a fire truck.

Matt Powell's family history is filled with firefighters. Both his father and grandfather were firefighters in Texas, and he has great memories of their lives. His family moved to Norman when he was 12, and he became a top soccer player, playing for Norman North and then West Virginia University. However, as Matt remembers, fate had other plans for him.

"I went to college to try and play soccer, and it just didn't work out," said Powell. "So, I came back home, and I was like, I'll get in the family business. So that's when I started attending school to be a fireman."

Powell, who is a corporal with MFD, says that even though soccer took him to college, he always knew that he wanted to pursue a career as a firefighter.

"It's intimidating at first because you are driving this huge truck," said Powell, "And honestly, it can be challenging when you deal with distracted drivers. It ends up being a very aggressive form of defensive driving. We're always watching and always on our toes watching for other drivers."

Away from the station, Powell enjoys being a husband and father, and working on his wife's horse ranch.

"I've been happily married for 13 years," said Powell, "I have a 23-year-old daughter. She's my stepdaughter, But I raised her, so I claim her. And then we have a four-year-old little girl that's a little pistol. So she keeps us on our toes. My wife has a horse farm. She does like horse riding lessons and stuff like that. So, on my days off, there's always something to do on a farm."

Stephanie Royse MBA, APR

Royse currently serves as the executive director of strategic partnerships for Moore Norman Technology Center where she has also held the titles of executive director of strategic communications and engagement, and director of marketing communications. She has over 25 years of experience in marketing, communications, and public and media relations. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Central Oklahoma. She is also accredited in public relations by the Public Relations Society of America.