Copyright © 2003 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

TULSA, OKLAHOMA - There is no time of the year that is more important to families than the holiday season. For many military families the holidays can be a difficult time when their loved ones are deployed overseas or stationed far from home. For 600 members of the Oklahoma Army National Guard's 120th Engineer Battalion and their families, Cherokee Casino is making this holiday season a truly joyous occasion.

Cherokee Nation Enterprises (CNE) is providing charter buses to bring Oklahoma Army Guardsmen and women home from Ft. Sill, Okla., for the Christmas Holiday. The soldiers are currently stationed at Ft. Sill to train for upcoming deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Many of these men and women will deploy overseas soon after the holiday season.

"Cherokee Casino wants to welcome these soldiers home for the holidays," said David Stewart, President and CEO of Cherokee Nation Enterprises, which operates Cherokee Casinos. "This is a time of year for families to be together. There's no telling where these men and women will be next Christmas, but Cherokee Casino is overjoyed to have the opportunity to bring the 120th Engineers home for Christmas."

"Some of these soldiers work for the Cherokee Nation," said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. "Many more are our friends, family members and neighbors. We wanted to give them a chance to come home, because they are doing so much for all of us."

The soldiers will arrive home on December 23rd and return to Ft. Sill on the 27th to resume their pre-deployment training and prepare to deploy overseas.

The following businesses have agreed to allow drop-off and pick-up from their parking lots. The approximate drop-off time on the 23rd and pick-up time on the 27th respectively:

Oklahoma City- State Capitol, East Parking Lot at 23rd and Lincoln. 10:30 a.m. drop-off/2:00 p.m. pick-up.

Tulsa* - US Cellular at 4700 S. Garnett (junction of Hwy 169 and BA) 12:00 Noon drop-off/2:00 p.m. pick-up.

*Principal Chief Smith, CEO David Stewart and Tribal Council representatives will attend the drop-off at noon on the 23rd.

Wagoner - Wal-Mart at 410 S. Dewey (junction of Hwy 51 and Hwy 69) 12:45 p.m. drop-off/2:00 p.m. pick-up

Tahlequah* - NSU Doc Wadley Stadium at the corner of Allen Road and Grand Ave. 1:15 p.m. drop-off /2:00 p.m. pick-up.

*Deputy Chief Joe Grayson and Tribal Council representatives will attend the drop-off at 1:15 on the 23rd.

Okmulgee - Wal-Mart on Hwy 75 south of Okmulgee. 12:00 Noon drop-off /2:00 p.m. pick-up

Muskogee* - VA Medical Center at 1011 Honor Heights Drive. 12:30 p.m. drop-off/2:00 p.m. pick-up.

*Tribal Council member Don Garvin will attend the drop-off at 12:30 on the 23rd.

Eufaula - Armstrong's Reil Rock-N-Roll Center at Burk's Access Road. 12:15 p.m. drop-off/2:00 p.m. pick-up.

Henryetta - Wal-Mart at junction Hwy 75 and Main Street. 11:30 a.m. drop-off/2:00 p.m. pick-up.

Cherokee Nation Enterprises operates Cherokee Casinos in Catoosa, West Siloam Springs, Roland and Fort Gibson, as well as Cherokee Outpost Convenience stores, Cherokee retail tobacco shops, the Cherokee Gift Shop and Cherokee Hills golf course in Catoosa. Cherokee Nation Enterprises employs more than 1,000 people throughout northeastern Oklahoma.

Related contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org