Editor, Daily Press:

I guess you could call me sentimental, old fashioned, but I felt I should put some words on paper for all my friends and family in Tahlequah.

My name is Tommy Young and have called Tahlequah home all my life. Raised out off Black Valley Road in the Woodall community. I spent my elementary years at Woodall and graduated class of ‘83 from Tahlequah High School. Don’t really know what prompted this letter, except an ol’ country boy, far from home, thinking of home. The date at the top was the day I walked across the stage at “Redmen Stadium” (of course, can’t call it that anymore!) and received my high school diploma. Maybe this would bring me to one objective of this letter.

I’m stationed in Baghdad International Airport, Iraq, on the Sather AB compound. I am part of a combat weather team, supporting aircraft as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. I’ve been her since the first week of January to leave mid July. One of the biggest things I have found to get me through this deployment was the wonderful cards, letters and packages from all the great people back home – family, friends, church family and the ones that hit “home” the most were the letters placed inside care packages from Keys Elementary and my alma mater, Woodall Elementary.

As I read the young’ens letters I would have to stop, close my eyes and picture myself sitting at those tiny desks. Can’t believe it’s been 30 years since I “graduated” as valedictorian of the 1979 eighth-grade class. At the time, I couldn’t remember for the life of me my speech – but out of respect for my fellow Wildcats, this ol’ man can name you the whole staff through my years as a Wildcat (sort of a tribute to those guys who made me the person I am today). Here we go.

Starting of course with the principal, Randall Davis, secretary Lois Parker (who had a hand in the letters/care package), Shirley Minneman, Jannette McGee, Mary Davis, Imogene Campbell, Judy Meyers, Jannelle Meigs, Wayne Poppino, and Tommy Seitz. Of course who could forget the cafeteria crew – ran by non other than my own mother, Maggie (Kiddie Kookie was her CB handle – remember those things?), Shirley McClure and Dorothy McCully, God rest her soul.

Not too bad for 30 years, two major conflicts and many miles traveled across the world.

I guess this could be a sort of challenge to those young authors of my much appreciated letters. With summer coming up (of course I don’t think you guys still do the end-of-the-year Murrell Home picnic) but just remember to be safe, play hard, listen to your parents, stay out of trouble and make it back next year to work on those childhood memories that I’m sure you will cherish as much as I did.

One last bit to say my appreciation to all of the people not just back home, but over the USA as a whole: The troops over here know and definitely appreciated the support of everyone – from the free Mother’s Day call from VFW posts , to the care packages from everyday people (Girl Scout cookies seem to be a hit this spring). So on behalf of all of us, thank you, God bless and you all are in my thoughts and prayers!

See you all at Walmart in August as I make my annual visit back home – or shall I say “God’s country” – Tahlequah, Okla.!

Tech. Sgt. Thomas Young

U.S. Air Force