4 minute read
Oklahomans Bring Joy
Oklahomans bring joy to Veterans at Christmas
By Lashanya Nash
“From a tiny spark may burst a mighty flame.” For Emerson Newell what began as a school project has grown beyond what anyone involved in the early days of this great cause could have ever imagined. It represents what a small group on a great mission can accomplish.
We have covered this heartfelt Veterans project since 2019 and an update is in order. What started in Shawnee, Oklahoma in the Newell family home has been embraced by OSU as a University project. The Newell family began the project but I feel one of the primary reasons it has grown and helped so many Veterans is because they have always maintained they were only its stewards. It is everyone who participates they credit to its success. The Newell family has given the opportunity to give back to our Veterans to anyone who wanted to be involved. Getting the youth of our State involved in honoring aging Veterans who have sacrificed so much is a life-changing endeavor for all involved.
I fondly remember first meeting Emerson Newell. She was a shy yet vivacious high school student always happy to work diligently in the background. As I listened to her speak recently, I realized the time that has passed and what a truly exceptional person and public speaker she is developing into. Knowing how proud her parents, Derek and Jessie Newell are to see the inspirational young woman their daughter is becoming. Emerson spoke to a patriotic and spirited crowd on the OSU campus in November and her heartfelt humble message explains the project best. “...I can’t begin to express how humbling it is as a freshman to have this University embrace the project that started in my home nearly 4 years ago. It started as an idea to create 10 bags for veterans during the 2018 holiday season. It instantly became a state project and the hub of it was in my house. It has been a blessing to see our home completely filled with hundreds of bags year after year in the first year...
I learned so much in the 1st year of this project that we made an effort to get as many students of all ages involved as possible. As of right now hundreds of students across the state are participating in taking care of our veterans. In the last two years, we have covered all 7 centers in Oklahoma and 100% of veterans housed in these centers received a Christmas bag, in the past 3 years over 5000 bags have been donated. Some of our veterans have family and some don’t but this project is a way to make sure that they’re all remembered. This project is a way to honor and respect the men and women that have sacrificed for our freedom.
With the help of Oklahoma State University and I believe this project will continue to grow and help thousands of veterans. I know that Oklahoma is the heart of the nation and I’m excited to see Oklahoma State Cowboys take it to the next level. Again, thank you to president Shrum and the University. Thank you to my sorority, Gamma Phi Beta and a very special thank you to Ashlyn Oliver and most of all I thank God. You have all made my freshmen year at OSU perfect and before I sit down I’d like to recognize my sorority sister, Savannah Baker, who will be deployed in the Spring and I’d like to recognize her and thank her for her service.“
Jessie Newell, Emerson’s mother, recognizes Ashlyn Oliver for her efforts that brought the project to the attention of OSU and credits the name change of this Veteran project to her. “Christmas Bags for Veterans” was officially changed to “COWBOYS FOR VETERANS”. Jessie added, “Bags will continue to be made by Oklahomans all over the state and in classrooms. Oklahoma State University will be the first university in the state to participate. The bags will go to the University and be dispersed by the University. This will give this project room to grow! I hope this inspires other colleges to participate.” If you are a school, university, or organization that would like to participate contact Jessie Newell for more information at 405-214-8633
OSU President, Dr. Kayse Shrum stated, “The cowboy family has an opportunity this year to make a difference in the lives of Oklahoma veterans in senior living communities and hospice care through “Cowboys for Veterans” we are collecting Christmas bags for veterans. As a proud daughter of a Vietnam Veteran, I cannot adequately express what their example, dedication, and sacrifice mean to the country, the campus and to me. Join me in honoring veterans and bringing them joy this holiday season learn more about this effort at the link below.
