Oklahoma Congressional Delegation Thanks OK National Guard for Protecting US Capitol

WASHINGTON, DC – Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK), along with Representatives Stephanie Bice (OK-05), Kevin Hern (OK-01), Markwayne Mullin (OK-02), Frank Lucas (OK-03), and Tom Cole (OK-04) sent a letter to the Oklahoma National Guard, thanking them for their exemplary service at the US Capitol last month.

“It was my highest honor to personally thank our Oklahoma National Guard members, who kept everyone safe during President Biden’s inauguration,” said Lankford. “Their families shared them with us to ensure the peaceful transition of power, and they did so with distinction. Thank you for how you keep us safe and for letting me show you around the US Capitol.”

Bice and several Oklahoma Congressional members met with the troops while they were in town guarding the US Capitol during inauguration. Oklahoma National Guard Members spent a week guarding the nation’s capitol.

“It was an honor to have the Oklahoma National Guard in Washington to ensure the safety and security of all who work within the Capitol complex. The sacrifices of these men and women are truly appreciated and will not be forgotten,” Bice said.

“I am deeply grateful to the Oklahomans who answered the call to serve with the Oklahoma National Guard and have been diligently working to keep us safe in our nation’s capital,” said Hern. “In-person attendance at this year’s inauguration was severely limited, but Oklahoma National Guard members were among the few onsite for the ceremony and will forever be a part of this chapter in our history. I am glad to know that we have such impressive men and women protecting us.”

“I was honored to be able to spend some time with OK National Guardsmen while they were in Washington and thank them for their service,” said Mullin. “The sacrifices they made, including being away from their loved ones back home, to help protect our Capitol will not be forgotten.”

“Following the unfortunate events last month, the Oklahoma National Guard showed one of Oklahoma’s brightest qualities- the Oklahoma Standard,” said Lucas. “We owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to the Guardsmen and women who put their lives on hold back home to ensure the safety and security of the US Capitol. Thank you to every member of the Oklahoma National Guard for your service and sacrifice in our times of need.”

“I am deeply grateful for the service of hundreds of members of Oklahoma’s own National Guard who were recently stationed in our nation’s capital to support and reinforce security during the presidential inauguration,” said Cole. “The brave members of our state’s National Guard truly live up to their motto of ‘Always Ready, Always There.’ I am proud to join Oklahoma’s congressional delegation in expressing my appreciation for their efforts and congratulating them on a mission completed well.”

“The Oklahoma National Guard has a special place in all of our hearts and I am proud to have such outstanding men and women wearing the uniform of their nation,” said Inhofe. “The service members of the armed forces deserve a thank you for their commitment, and I’m glad to sign on to Representative Bice’s letter to show them a small token of our gratitude.”

Read the full letter HERE or below.

Members of the Oklahoma National Guard:

We in the Oklahoma Congressional Delegation would like to express our sincere gratitude to you and the nearly 400 Oklahoma National Guardsmen who have deployed to Washington, D.C.

The events of the last month were unprecedented and have presented unique challenges to us all. Your efforts to ensure the safety and security of all who work within the Capitol complex are truly appreciated and will never be forgotten. We are incredibly thankful for your sacrifice, integrity, and adherence to your constitutional oath. You have operated with continued and impressive devotion to our great nation. Oklahoma’s guardsmen stand as an example to the nation, and we and the American people are grateful for your service and sacrifice.

With sincere thanks and best wishes,

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