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National Prayer Luncheon set for 11:30 a.m. March 13

  • Published
  • By Chaplain (Capt.) Kelly D. Stahl
  • Tinker Chapel
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE --  This year's National Prayer Luncheon is set for 11:30 a.m. March 13. The annual event has a change from the past: it has changed from a breakfast event to a luncheon. Besides that, it will be very similar from what the Tinker community has come to enjoy and expect.
   The speaker will be retired Lt. Col. Steven Russell, a highly decorated former Army officer having received the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device and Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantry Man's Badge and the Valorous Unit Award. The unit Colonel Russell commanded played a vital role in the search and capture of Saddam Hussein.
   Colonel Russell commanded the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry "Regulars" during Operation Iraqi Freedom and was involved in combat in Tikrit, Iraq, from spring of 2003 to the spring of 2004. Many news agencies such as Fox News, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS and Time Magazine covered his battalion during the first year of the war. His unit has also been featured on documentaries from the BBC and Discovery Network.
   The media has described Colonel Russell as "an officer who never misses a chance to be on patrol with his unit. Russell is of average height, wiry and doesn't seem imposing. Yet, he impresses you as a natural leader. He's got the earnestness and intensity of a missionary." He is now a sought after speaker, thought-provoking writer, and media analyst. He is also the founder and chairman of "Vets for Victory," an organization that educates the public about the war on terror.
   The luncheon will be held at 11:30 a.m. March 13 in the Tinker Club's ballroom. Tickets are $7 each and must be purchased no later than close of business March 7. The menu for the luncheon is the "Deli Lover's Delight," which includes a turkey sandwich on a hoagie bun, potato salad and coffee/tea service. Those with dietary needs should let inform staff at the time of purchasing tickets. Tickets may be purchased from first sergeants, unit chaplains or from the staff at the Tinker Chapel. For more information, call the chapel at 734-2111.