FORT SILL, Okla., March 24, 2016 -- On my way back from rugby practice (that's for another OBL) I called my husband and said to get ready, we're going to Artillery Park.
I said the name "Artillery Park" not actually knowing if that was the official name for the plot of land, littered with old weaponry, next the Fort Sill Field Artillery Museum. I was pretty pleased with myself to discover that I accurately said the name of the park.
The park features 88 pieces with another seven pieces in the "front yard" of the Army Artillery Museum, said Gordon Blaker, the director and curator of the museum.
An additional 12 pieces are in parking lots behind the museum. The number changes as pieces are moved in and out for refurbishment and maintenance.
The sidewalk spirals all over the place, like a field-artillery labyrinth, only without a minotaur or anything crazy. The park's path passes pieces in chronological order (generally) from east to west.
Blaker said the number of artillery outdoors will change as some slated for Artillery Park were discovered to have special importance requiring them to be placed inside the museum. Because the original design of the park created pads for specific pieces, Blaker said rearranging will take some time.
I'd visited an old military and aviation museum in Fort Worth, Texas, when I was little and loved climbing on all the pieces of equipment and weaponry (my favorite was a tank, I don't know what kind but I felt super cool on it). I'm not going to lie, I was really looking forward to climbing the howitzers and taking photos on the trucks that pulled the weapons -- and then I saw a sign that gently requested I help preserve the pieces by kindly not climbing on them.
Aw man. If I hadn't seen it I could have gone on my merry way not even feeling the slightest bit guilty about my awesome selfie shots. Unfortunately, I did see the sign and I couldn't, in good conscience, climb even one. Not even for what I'm sure would have been the next Pulitzer Award winning photo. We'll never know.
The weather Sunday was a little cool but the amount of sun made it just the right weather for walking. It reminded me of days when I was young(er) and still dating my now husband. We'd go on these walks to nowhere, just talking and enjoying our time with one another. This park is perfect for that. Not super romantic, but I would imagine in the twilight hours, when the sun is in that golden hour, and no one is on post because they've all gone home -- that would be the most perfect time for a walk hand-in-hand with someone you love. Or maybe the perfect spot for a game of hide-and-go-seek for a family. It might sound lame but it's pretty cool. I'm just saying you have options all right?
Last year I made a scavenger hunt for my then 9-year-old son throughout the museums (didn't know the library already had one). I think I'll try and do something similar here. We'll have to see.
All right my OBL friends, I'm running low on things to do. I have some bigger items but I need more local flair. So what do I need to do while I'm here? What do I need to try? Any foods I should eat? What about people? Anyone I should meet? I'd love to know, send me a message at monica.k.guthrie.civ@mail.mil.
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