The Living Salute Fort Reno’s Deceased Veterans
by Richard Stephens, Jr.
German Air Force service members stationed at Fort Sill’s Air Defense Training Center conducted the German Memorial Day ceremony at Fort Reno's POW Cemetery, Nov. 23, 2025.
Two distinctly different memorial services at Fort Reno in November and December honored two groups of veterans buried at the Post Cemetery to ensure their service was not forgotten. Debra Kauffman, President of Historic Fort Reno, Inc., hosted both events. Fort Reno sits four miles from El Reno on Route 66.
German Memorial Day
On November 23 at the Visitors Center, attendees stated the importance of remembering the dead from wars– not just Prisoners of War (POWs) at Fort Reno – but from any country and from any war. Captain Rolf Niemezewski, Commander of the German Air Force unit at Fort Sill’s Air Defense Training Center, said, “I really appreciate the honor to attend the German Memorial Day inside the United States to think about all the fallen soldiers, no matter which country, and also think about the children and women that died and were wounded.”
The service moved to the Post Cemetery, where a stone wall separates the majority of the buried (veterans, civilians, American Indians) from POWs buried there. Moving slowly through the German and Italian POW Cemetery to the song, “Amazing Grace,” the German national flag, Deutschlandfahne, was carried by one of three uniformed German Air Force Honor Guard. Ten more German Air Force servicemen stood at attention in the cemetery. Then, Hildegard Effinger and Jutta Tankersley of Tulsa and two German Air Force members placed five wreaths next to tombstones as thirty people watched.
Finally, Susan Calvert led the group singing “The Good Comrade” in German, a song written by German poet Ludwig Uhland in 1809.
Fort Reno’s POW History
Fort Reno’s POW Camp was constructed in 1943 and German prisoners began arriving July 4, 1943, according to a Fort Reno Visitors Center handout, “World War II German Prisoner of War Camp.” Up to 1,335 POWs were held at one time. Seventy World War II POWs are interred at the Fort Reno cemetery. “There are 62 Germans and 8 Italians, the majority of those interred at Fort Reno were held at POW Camps in Oklahoma and Texas.”
Wreaths Across America
A mix of long rifles, muskets and pistols fired together at the Post Cemetery on December 20 – not in anger, but in honor of veterans - during the nationally held Wreaths Across America Ceremony. It was sponsored by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).
Once 60 visitors assembled at the Post Cemetery, Leslie Dietrich, Regent of the Fort Reno Chapter of DAR, welcomed everybody and asked for the Colors to be posted. Allegiance was given to our flag, followed by a prayer of remembrance for deceased veterans.
Henry Baer put a wreath at the tombstone of a veteran at Fort Reno Post Cemetery. President of Oklahoma's Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Dietrich said the group lays wreaths “to remember, honor and teach about those who served in the military and protected our freedoms…and teach the next generation the value of freedom.” Their purpose is “not to decorate graves…” but express a “symbol of honor for their (veterans) sacrifice.” The National DAR has given service to living and deceased veterans since 1890.
Attendees then picked up the green wreaths that the DAR brought and put them on veteran’s headstones while reciting their name as a way to publicly show they are not forgotten. After Dan Wilson of Wakita laid a wreath, he said, “I love to see the respect given to those who have gone before us.” German and Italian soldiers buried at the P.O.W. Cemetery did not receive wreaths.
Members of the Sons of the American Revolution and The Guthrie Gunfighters, dressed in historical period clothing, formed a line and fired three volleys. Then, Chad Kautz played a mournful Taps. The Guthrie Gunfighters’ Trail Boss, Kent Smith, said, “We come out to support the museum in a unique way to honor our veterans.”
Fire! Sons of the American Revolution and Guthrie Gunfighters shot three volleys at Wreaths Across America ceremony at Fort Reno Post Cemetery, Dec 20, 2025
In 2022, the Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, placed wreaths on 2.7 million veteran’s headstones at 3,702 locations in all 50 states and abroad with the help of two million volunteers and organizations providing support.After both events, Kaufman opened the museum for individual tours and a reception, offering engaging conversation and a variety of food and beverages. She summarized the events by saying, “We are fortunate to have a cemetery that has a long period of history tied to it. With the German-Italian Memorial Service and the DAR’s Wreaths Across America service, they provide opportunities to honor servicemen buried there.”
“To be killed in war is not the worst that can happen. To be lost is not the worst that can happen…….to be forgotten is the worst.” Piere Claeyssens (1909-2003).
Fort Reno is directly on Route 66, four miles west of El Reno. It is open 10:00 to 4:00 Tuesday through Saturday. Admission prices range from $4- $6. The Visitor Center is in the former officer's quarters. The Post Cemetery is one mile away. The staff in the U.S. Cavalry Association's house, next to the Visitor Center, encourages visitors to see them too.
