The staff of Jones Public Relations, Inc., Oklahoma City's only downtown PR firm, was celebrating the Christmas season with a lunch at Toby Keith's I Love This Bar and Grill on Friday, Dec. 21.  While we were discussing Toby's respect for American soldiers and how he illustrates that within his restaurant's menu with one of its feature items, the All-American Cheeseburger, we had the opportunity to experience American patriotism first-hand with a parade of U.S. soldiers filling the restaurant.

Feeling a heart-felt desire to show honor and respect, the Jones PR staff quickly initiated a standing ovation for these soldiers. Timing couldn't have been more perfect, when we learned these 40, newly recruited, Ft. Sill soldiers were enjoying a day in Downtown Oklahoma City and Bricktown since they were not able to be home with their families for the Christmas holiday. Read the Oklahoman's coverage of the soldiers at this link.

Also present during our lunch were 20 linemen from out of state. They had traveled to Oklahoma to help repair downed power lines and electrical services for Oklahomans that had been affected by one of the largest ice storms in the state's history. The importance of this group of men was little known to the restaurant patrons, but that didn't stop us from personally thanking them for their selfless actions.

We took a moment to reflect on what makes this nation and our state so great - its people! The All American Christmas lunch will stay in our hearts and minds for quite some time.

One more "thank you" to the soldiers and linemen.