Osage Nation dedicated a portion of the Osage Nation Ranch as the Captain Richard White Luttrell Park on April 25.
The morning was sunny and calm, with a light breeze – the perfect temperature for the groundbreaking ceremony. Many members of Luttrell’s family attended to help commemorate the special event.
Future plans for the park will include a fishing pier, a nest for golden eagles, a picnic area, a playground and more.
Osage Language Director Braxton Redeagle said the opening prayer, followed by remarks from the family.
“Thank you all for coming out today,” said artist Yatika Fields, Luttrell’s grandson. “It is a beautiful day and I’m really thankful for that. And it’s not raining. I’m just so happy and honored to be up here speaking on behalf of my family and my grandfather. I know he’d be really happy and excited, and I know he is here. I know he is smiling down on us for this occasion for a lot of things that he put forth in his life and for the community to see something like this happen.”
Fields read Luttrell’s biography and remembers his grandfather who loved horses and the outdoors.
“He would ride his horse, Buster, from Hominy to Grayhorse and in the expansive Osage Hills where he felt free just like where we are today,” Fields read. “His love and knowledge of horses led him to the Oklahoma Military Academy where he graduated with honors in the military Horse Calvary and the honor mounted team.”
Luttrell was a veteran in the U.S. Army and National Guard. He served in both WWII and the Korean War, fulfilling multiple military roles.
“Richard was fortunate to be placed in various military schools where he became proficient in infantry, artillery, anti-aircraft, airborne amphibious, heavy weapons and guided missiles,” Fields read. “Richard served in several infantry units as squad leader, platoon sergeant, platoon leader, executive officer, and company commander. After 12 years of active service, Richard left the army as captain of the infantry.”
After he retired, he served the Osage people by developing a drug prevention program. He also stayed involved with the youth and other parts of the community.
Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear reflected on his friendship with Luttrell and shared memories he had with him.
“He was generous with his time,” he said. “And he was much needed emotionally, mentally; a lot of us outside the family considered him like our relative, our uncle, our guide.”
After the Osage Nation purchased the ranch in 2016, Luttrell and Chief visited the ranch. Luttrell envisioned an idea of creating an area for Osages to come together.
“When we came out here after Osage Nation purchased this ranch, we were just looking over this area, and he said, ‘Geoffrey, we ought to turn this into a place for our youth to come here and learn to fish, learn to just have good relations with one another,’” Standing Bear said. “He was philosophical about it, and he goes, ‘And I’ve always wanted to see Osage Nation get into a Wounded Warriors project, and this will be perfect for our wounded veterans to come here and enjoy the fish and also enjoy the other land he talked about.”
Standing Bear reflected on the positive occasion for his friend.
“He wanted to reach out to our youth and our wounded warriors, and he really was spiritual about it,” he said. “And I had the opportunity to be around him and to call him my friend. And I want to thank you and all the family for sharing the precious time we have on earth by sharing Richard with us.”
His son, Rick Luttrell, Jr., said his father enjoyed his outdoor excursions and it gave him the opportunity to be alone in his thoughts and further explore his relationship with the God that he understood, to be thankful for all his blessings.
“My father understood the importance of being of hope. It is only fitting that the elements that nurtured my father are here on these grounds,” he said of the park. “It is our hope, our belief that these dedicated grounds will serve those that visit here as a place of peace and hope and fun.
“This oasis known as the Captain Richard White Luttrell Park, guaranteed by the sovereignty of the Osage Nation, will exist for as long as grass grows and rivers flow. Thank you.”
