Kelly Cross Oakes, native of Tulsa, Oklahoma was born March 8th, 1958. Raised in a humble home to a family that lived and served the military life. The Army has been the choice of service for the men most important, in her life. Her grandfather served during WW11, her father during the Korean War, her brother during peace time, her former husband during the Vietnam War, and now her son in the War on Terror.
Kelly, a life long artist, poet, lyricist, and photographer dreamed of the day when she could share her God-given talents with others. Her ambition in life is to bless and encourage others from her writing and pursue her art full time. With the advent of September 11, 2001, the subsequential declaration of War on Terror October 7, 2001, and the united efforts of America behind our troops - inspired Kelly to write the poem, ‘Dear American Soldier’. A tribute to the members of the armed forces serving our country on foreign soil.
Family and friends encouraged Kelly to send the poem to our military service members. Faced with the challenges as a Homeschool educator and working a part-time job, Kelly took advantage of the Christmas break in December 2001, and began organizing her campaign to get the poem into the hands of the soldiers fighting overseas. In January 2002, and for the next two years she was successful in reaching her goal. Her efforts were first recognized through various organizations and publications, such as America Supports You, Presidential Prayer Team, Freedom Team Salute, National Military Appreciation Month, and Mid-East Edition Stars & Stripes, to name a few. Kelly even sent a letter with the poem to President Bush and received an encouraging reply from the White House.
In September 2004, Kelly combined her management retail experience, customer service expertise, team leadership skills as a campaign organizer and entrepreneur spirit with her artistic passion and opened her own business, Glory First Creations. About this time, a friend told her about a local organization Blue Star Mothers of America - Oklahoma Chapter 1 based in Tulsa, championing the cause to support our troops by sending care packages they proudly call ‘Freedom Boxes’. She immediately became a member and within a year was appointed the correspondence secretary officers position in the organization. Being able to serve the armed forces in her hometown further fueled her ambition to encourage the morale of military service members fighting overseas.
Now, two years into her business, her immediate goals are to expand her military product and greeting card line with other military families who share the same passion as her. Kelly also has her sight on authoring a book, which of course, you may have already guessed, is in pursuit of encouraging and supporting Americas Sons and Daughters fighting overseas, ‘Until Each One Comes Home.’
