First ever DAV 5k in Oklahoma set for Nov. 5 in Tulsa

Tulsa becomes only the fifth city in the nation to host the event

TULSA — — A new annual tradition to honor America's veterans and active service military begins November 5th in Tulsa.

It's the inaugural Disabled American Veterans 5K, but as Ajutant Danny Oliver of the Oklahoma DAV explained Tuesday, it's much more than just a race.

"It's an event designed to honor veterans and bring awareness," he told KRMG.

Motorcyclists will participate, and will leave the starting line first.

They'll be followed by those who walk, run, or use wheelchairs or modified bicycles.

That will include the leader of the DAV himself, Oliver says.

"Our national commander, who's a quad amputee, is going to be riding his adaptive bike in this 5K."

There will be an after party, with food and live music.

But more importantly, he added, the event will include a lot of information for veterans and their families on services that are available to them.

And the Spartan Sword will make an appearance.

Forged from 25 pounds of steel salvaged from the wreckage of the twin towers in New York City, the sword is held while making a pledge to not commit suicide.

The pledge reads as follows:

“I will not take my own life by my own hand without talking to my battle buddy first. My mission is to find a mission to help my Warfighter family.”

The sword, Oliver says, "is very unique. There's only one of them in the world, and it will be right there at the Guthrie Green with us at the 5K."

The Tulsa DAV 5K will be an annual event, held the Saturday before Veterans Day.

Only Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati, and Newport News, Virginia have hosted the DAV 5K events previously.

The DAV plans to continue rolling them out across the country.

Tulsa's DAV 5K is Saturday, Nov. 5th. at Guthrie Green downtown.

Motorcycles will roll out about 8:30 a.m., walkers, runners, and rollers move out at 9:00 a.m.

The after party is from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

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