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September 6, 2007

Memorial flagpole made by Edmond company

Patty Miller

EDMOND — A group of individuals determined to honor the memory of those who served on the USS Oklahoma and lost their lives in the onset of World War II is one step closer to seeing the completion of the memorial to be erected at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

“Phil Parduhn, president of Pelco Products Inc., an Edmond-based company was generous enough to donate a 40-foot flagpole and associated equipment plus a flag,” said retired Navy Cmdr. Jon W. “Tucker” McHugh, also of Edmond.

“When Phil was told of the need he generously contributed to a significant feature of the memorial.”

Parduhn, a veteran himself, served with the Army in Germany in 1956 as a forward observer for 4.2 Mortar Company.

One unusual thing about the flagpole, Parduhn said, is the rigging is totally self contained, and when the flag is raised it comes out of the flagpole halfway up making it harder for someone to cause damage to the flagpole or to take the flag.

“The flagpole for the USS Oklahoma Memorial was made in Oklahoma by Oklahomans, and it will fly 24/7, 365 days of the year at the memorial site,” McHugh said.

Wednesday, McHugh and retired Navy Rear Adm. Greg Slavonic of Oklahoma City, co-chairmen of the effort to raise money for the memorial, were joined at Pelco by Frank Naifeh of Edmond, who is treasurer of the effort.

“We wanted to recognize Phil for his generous donation of the flagpole,” McHugh said. “An Oklahoman stepped up when he was told of the need.”

Parduhn was presented with a signed print of the USS Oklahoma, a watercolor drawn by Greg Burns.

Numbered and signed prints still may be purchased as part of the fundraising efforts.

“We have raised to date about $700,000 toward a goal of $1.1 million,” McHugh said. “We are making these prints available, and right now we only have about 80 left.”

Prints may be purchased by sending $105, which includes shipping and handling.

Parduhn plans to attend the dedication along with his wife and 20 of his friends including two former mayors, Carl Reherman and Saundra Naifeh, and their spouses.

“When we are ready we will come and get the flagpole and ship it to Hawaii in time for the dedication, which is set for Dec. 7, during the centennial year since the USS Oklahoma is an official centennial event,” McHugh said.



pmiller@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 171

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