“I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”
These are the words Kingfisher High School Junior, Elizabeth Pickle uttered yesterday as she swore into the United States Army National Guard. This has been a dream of hers for the past 2 years that finally became a reality on Tuesday, January 28th.
Elli will leave for her basic training in Georgia at Fort Moore, formerly Fort Benning, on June 3rd of this year. She will then return for her senior year at KHS. Upon graduating she will then do her Advanced Individual Training (AIT) before heading to college at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) where she plans to double major in Forensic Science and Criminology.
Joining her in this momentous occasion was her mother, Kara Strickland; stepfather, Harlee Strickland; father, Scott Pickle; sister, Maitland Pickle; and her recruiter, Sgt. Jimmy Vogt.
Thank you for your bravery and willingness to serve your country and its people! Photos by AAK Maitland Pickle.
