Chief Warrant Officer #3 Ryan Johnson, with the OK Army National Guard out of Tulsa, points to the controls in a UH-60 M Black Hawk helicopter. Johnson said he has been in the U.S. Army a total of 22 years in the infantry, then aviation. There were also helicopters from the U.S. Customs & Border Protection and Air Evac.

Vietnam Veteran, Staff Sgt. Timothy Lawrence, of Shawnee, helps his grandson, Dale graduate Major Jerame Johnson, to prepare for deployment to Qatar from Fort Sill in Lawton in 2016. Both veterans retired from the Army after at least 20 years. Lawrence's family recently found his memoir and had it published, seven years after his passing — "leaving something behind so we could understand where he came from and what shaped him.” Photos provided

Dell Kerbs - File photo

Creative Magic Productions, LLC, are nationally recognized entertainers and retired area educators "Jack Spade" (Jeff Hames) and "Annie Heart" (Valarie Hames), of Bethel. Photos by Natasha Dunagan, Countywide & Sun

Shawnee High School senior Ally Fitchner is pictured with Dr. Aisha whom she said made a lasting impression. Photos provided