OSU Air Force ROTC (AFROTC) Veterans Memorial Flagpole

The memorial flagpole is a tall pole with a concrete base situated on the main walkway in front of the primary entrance to Thatcher Hall. The building serves as the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) headquarters, for both the Oklahoma State University Department of Aerospace Studies (AFROTC Detachment 670), and the Department of Military Science (Army ROTC “Cowboy Battalion”). It also houses instructional classrooms, a joint supply facility, office spaces and meeting rooms, and a cadet lounge. The flagpole is a central gathering point for military formations, leadership labs, and social and ceremonial events. Daily Reveille (morning flag raising) and Retreat (afternoon lowering) ceremonies, complete with music, are conducted by AFROTC and Army ROTC cadets during the school year. Flagpole: On the concrete base of the flagpole is a plaque with the U.S. Coat of Arms and a Pilot Badge (wings), with the inscription: IN MEMORIAM MAJ. JACK L. SLATTON CAPT. WILLIS L. SUTTON 1ST LT. EDGAR L. MEREDITH 1ST LT. ROBERT WAKEFIELD GIVEN BY USAFIT ARNOLD AIR SOCIETY 1959 (Note: The United States Air Force Institute of Technology – USAFIT, Arnold Air Society is a national professional honorary military organization of Advanced AFROTC cadets at OSU. The Society is named in honor of General H.H. ”Hap” Arnold, the Chief of the Army Air Forces during WWII.)