USS Oklahoma City To Be Displayed In Oklahoma

The OKC City Council green lights plans for a USS Oklahoma City display.

On Tuesday, the council approved a memorandum of understanding with the USS Oklahoma City Parks Association which worked for years to bring the display.

Soon, just south of lower Scissortail Park, the north shore of the Oklahoma River will be home to pieces of the city’s namesake vessels, a cruiser and a submarine.

The cruiser was commissioned in 1944. The submarine was decommissioned last year. Collectively, the 2 served in 5 wars from World War 2 to Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The council’s approval was just the next step in fulfilling retired Rear Admiral Greg Slavonic’s goal. Years ago he set out to find a permanent home for the display.

“Having a ship named after your city is a pretty cool deal,” says Admiral Slavonic. “The navy puts a lot of emphasis on namesake relationships with cities.”

There is still a long way to go when it comes to acquiring parts of the submarine where the motto was “The Sooner the Better.”

“I don’t think ‘The Sooner the Better’ will help us here,” the admiral jokes. “This is probably going to be a good 4 to 5 years.”

Admiral Slavonic admits the Navy moves at its own speed.

Eventually the military branch with cut off and ship the submarine’s sail and dive planes. Those are the only parts of the nuclear submarine allowed to remain.

“I think we finally feel a great sense of relief that we know it will have a wonderful home,” says Parks and Recreation Director, Melinda McMillan-Miller.

The department spent nearly 4 years working to find the best location in the city.

“This was exhilarating,” McMillan-Miller says of the moment it was approved. “It just helps us continue that legacy of really being able to honor our veterans.”

Admiral Slavonic says he hopes the display will honor, educate and serve as reminder.

“Freedom isn’t free, but we need more memorials like this,” he says. “To remind people of our defense and what strong defense is.”

The display will be privately funded through the USS Oklahoma City Parks Association. It now moves to the fundraising phase.

Admiral Slavonic says it will like cost between $700,000 and $800,000.

For more information or if you would like to contribute, you can message jmchugh5@cox.net.