Published: July 03, 2009 09:29 am      

Kevin Roland to speak at local church Sunday on celebrating freedom

Ada — Oklahoma National Guard Capt. Kevin Roland, Ada, will speak during Freedom Celebration at Trinity Baptist Church Sunday, July 5. He will speak at 9:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.

Church music ministry will be presenting special music celebrating the United States and honoring its service men and women.

Roland has been a full-time soldier in the Oklahoma Army National Guard since 2005. Before that, he was a highschool teacher at Bethel High School.

He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1986 and deployed with the 14th Marines in support of Operation Desert Sheild, Storm and Sabler. He left the Marine Corps in 1995 and in 1997 joined the Oklahoma National Guard with assignment to Company "C: 1-180 Infantry Battalion in Ada.

Upon return from deployment in Egypt, Roland assumed command of C Company in Ada. The company deployed to New Orleans in support of Operation Katrina and in 2006 it deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. After his return to the United States from Afghanistan, Roland was assigned to Oklahoma Army National Guard Recruiting Command. The following year, he assumed duties in Ada as the officer in charge of East Central University Guard Officer Leadership Development program. He currently teaches military science at ECU.