ADA, Okla. - More than 800 local residents took a stand against crime during the seventh annual National Night Out, conducted August 3 on ECU’s campus.
Sponsored by the Chickasaw Nation, City of Ada and East Central University, the event is designed to help promote local anti-crime programs, and to honor members of local law enforcement agencies for the work they do to keep the community safe and secure.
"National Night Out highlights the daily cooperative efforts between tribal, state and local agencies and promotes positive interaction among the youth and law enforcement.
We are pleased to be a part of this special night," Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby said.
More than two dozen uniformed officers were recognized and honored during the event.
"They may not be rock stars, they may not be athletes, but they do jobs that are far more important so we should at least recognize them once a year," Jay Keel, Chickasaw Nation administrator for Youth and Family Services Division said.
"It takes a lot of people and agencies to protect and defend our community. These men and women make a difference in our lives everyday. Their hard work improves our quality of life," he said.
Each participating agency was recognized with a plaque, including Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police Department, Ada Police Department, Chickasaw Nation BIA firefighters, Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Pontotoc County Sheriff’s office, Ada Police, Ada Fire, East Central Police, Oklahoma National Guard and the Chickasaw Nation Honor Guard.
The event included a National Night Out proclamation from Ada’s Mayor, Mr. Darrell Nemecek and a welcome by ECU president John Hargrave.
The Chickasaw Princesses performed the "The Lord’s Prayer" and the tribal honor guard posted the colors just prior to the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem.
The event also featured booths with information about good nutrition, vocational rehabilitation services and fire safety and other important issues.
The crowd also enjoyed hot dogs and bottled water, along with fun games and face painting.
Mardy Hill said her five-year-old son Braden enjoyed the inflatable toys.
"We have come every year, since Braden was a baby. We enjoy just being out with the community and the activities."
Braden said he enjoyed playing on the "bouncy things" and made a hole-in-one at the golf game offered by the Lazer Zone Family Fun Center booth.
Members of the Chickasaw Martial Arts program, a drug dog demonstration and "Bloodline", a local music group, provided entertainment throughout the evening.
National Night Out was introduced by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW) in 1984 as a means of increasing participation in neighbor watch participation. Ada is one more than 15,000 communities around the nation and Canada, and on military bases who took part in the 2010 event.
The 2009 Ada event was honored for the fourth consecutive year as one of the best in the United States. It was ranked 18th in cities with population less than 15,000 citizens.
