Mike Gonzales warned everyone to plug their ears. "The report from this gun is loud and thunderous," said Gonzales, curator of the 45th Infantry Division Museum.

Gonzales served as master of ceremonies Friday at the museum's Veterans Day ceremony. Some heeded his words as historic reenactors fired a World War II-era 37 mm anti-tank gun to begin the ceremony. Many jumped when the gun went off.

Minutes later, Brig. Gen. Gary Bray, deputy commander of the Oklahoma Army National Guard and keynote speaker at the ceremony, put the thunder of the gun in perspective.

"Some would call that noise," Bray said. "I would call it the sound of freedom."

More than 100 veterans, family members and supporters gathered Friday morning at the museum for the ceremony, which featured 14 color guards ranging from the Governor's Honor Guard to high school junior ROTC color guards.

Two Army National Guard Black hawk helicopters flew over the cer- emony before Bray took the podium. He thanked all veterans and active military members in attendance and tried to put into perspective the meaning behind Veterans Day.

"All those that enjoy the peace and security of our country that have not or will not serve it owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to those that do," Bray said.

Bray also asked family members of veterans and active military to stand and be recognized.

"It is not just the service member who answers the call to duty," Bray said. "They may not carry a rifle on their shoulders, but they carry the weight of worry. They carry that burden until their loved one comes home. Whenever a service member falls in combat, it is the families who suffer most."

World War II veteran Bill Crane, who served in the Army Air Corps, said he came to the ceremony to recognize the service of all those who served with him and those who have served since.

Though they served in different conflicts, Bray said veterans share many of the same characteristics. Those qualities are shared by American soldiers from every war and every era, he said.

"Those first colonial American soldiers who died in Lexington made the ultimate sacrifice for an idea -- the idea that they could form their own nation," Bray said. "Since then generations have worn the uniform and fought both on domestic and foreign soil. All the while, they symbolize the nobility of selfless service and sacrifice by those who answer the call to duty."