Gov. Kevin Stitt has signed a bill that clears the way for a Gold Star Families Monument on the south grounds of the Oklahoma State Capitol, just off the new arch, according to family members and lawmakers. The privately funded memorial will be installed by the Woody Williams Foundation to honor families who lost loved ones while serving in the military. For Pryor native Dawn Woody, whose husband, Airman 1st Class Joshua Woody, died in the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing, the planned site offers a public place to grieve, remember and not feel so alone in that loss.
House Bill 4486, authored in the House by Rep. Tammy Townley and carried in the Senate by Sen. Kelly Hines, cleared both chambers and was approved by the governor on April 23, 2026. The measure gives the State Capitol Preservation Commission authority to permit placement of the monument, according to LegiScan. Lawmakers also attached an emergency clause aimed at speeding up the permitting process so the project does not get stuck in bureaucratic limbo.
Families and legislators quickly marked the bill’s passage. Dawn Woody, whose husband was killed in the Khobar Towers bombing on June 25, 1996, said the Capitol site would give families a nearby place to remember and “be comforted.” Sen. Hines called the move “the least we can do to honor those families,” as reported by Oklahoma Voice. Rep. Tammy Townley told the outlet the monument will sit near the arch on the south side of the Capitol, where visitors cannot really miss it.
What the monument looks like
The Woody Williams Foundation’s Gold Star Families Memorial Monuments are two-sided black granite markers that feature a cutout silhouette of a saluting service member and four etched panels titled Homeland, Family, Patriot and Sacrifice, according to the Woody Williams Foundation. The design is intended to frame the sky through the silhouette, creating a quiet spot for reflection as well as a backdrop for community events tied to veterans and Gold Star families.
Costs and local context
Costs for a single monument typically range from about $48,000 to $60,000, Katie Howard of the Woody Williams Foundation told Oklahoma Voice. The foundation will lead the fundraising push for the Capitol installation, meaning no direct hit to the state budget for construction.
Oklahoma already has Gold Star Families monuments in Lawton, Shawnee and Owasso. The Owasso monument’s dedication last year drew local attention at Veterans Park, as reported by News On 6, giving state leaders a nearby example of how the Capitol memorial could function as both a solemn site and a community gathering space.
Next steps and timeline
A firm installation date has not been set, and the schedule will depend on fundraising and final site approvals. The State Capitol Preservation Commission placed a presentation about incorporating a Gold Star monument into the arch grounds on its April 16 agenda, and the bill’s floor text included language allowing the commission to permit the placement, according to LegiScan.
Supporters say a quiet monument on the Capitol’s south lawn will provide a lasting, highly visible recognition for families who lost loved ones in service. Lawmakers and the Woody Williams Foundation say they expect to announce fundraising and planning milestones as the project moves from paper to granite.
