Gateway First Bank in Tonkawa is hosting an open house celebration in honor of Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 10, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. The bank is located at 111 East Grand. Veterans and their families are invited so that the community can recognize their selfless contributions and sacrifices.Each year there is a beautiful display of elaborate, hand-stitched quilts made by three Tonkawa residents. Patty Levings McCune and Sherry Jeffries Fields have stitched over 100 quilts, including those displayed by Gateway First Bank, for local veterans and those killed in action. Williams Construction Company of Tonkawa made and donated 10 quilt racks for the display.Letters from local school children to area veterans are also on display, as well as flags representing each branch of service. Veteran Mike Schatz provided both the flags and a rare copy of a book on Tonkawa veterans. The book is one of only five published. Photographs from the book will be used to create a video that will play throughout the day during November, honoring each local veteran. Veteran Charles Tingley, from Ponca City, is provided numerous display cases with photos, medals, and military items.This year the Tonkawa Museum will also be providing Veteran’s Day memorabilia to display at Gateway First Bank from November 1-15.Light refreshments will be provided with some of the food being donated by Moore Venture Food.“On behalf of Gateway First Bank and its team members, we extend our thanks and gratitude to all the veterans in the community for your service to our country,” says Scott Gesell, Gateway CEO. “We all benefit from the service and sacrifices you and your families made while you fulfilled your very important mission. We also appreciate your continued engagement in our community. We all need to remember that freedom is not free and that a significant part of the cost for this has been paid by you and your families – we are eternally appreciative.
