by Micah (N4MJL)

March 18th, 2025, I successfully activated the Oklahoma City National Memorial (US-8115). I typically get a few activation photos and post them to the POTA Facebook group, so that hunters get the chance to see the other side of the hobby. I have always enjoyed seeing other activators’ radio setups in the parks that I just hunted. So I was very surprised when I received some very negative comments/private messages from several different individuals about my activating this park. Growing up in southeast Missouri, I am very aware of the seriousness of this memorial to many people!

I often overnight in Oklahoma City for work trips. I have walked through this park without activating it on many occasions. On my last trip through OKC, I was up early out walking, and as per my habit, I had my Elecraft KH1 in my backpack. It was an early morning weekday, and it was still chilly out.

On one of my previous trips through OKC, I had already researched the park website to see if there was anything forbidding the use of radios in the park. The park’s website states that it is open 24 hours, and it did not list any rules different from any other national park/memorial. As you can see from my photos, I was the only “civilian” in the park during my activation. I was the 11th successful activator of this park.

Since the park website rules listed nothing that would forbid use of radios in the park, I decided to check out the park.

As a responsible operator, I understand the importance of using common sense and showing courtesy to those around me. I also recognize the importance as an activator to leave a good relationship with park authorities so that I do not ruin it for the activators that will come after me.

I was the only person in this park for the entire 59 minutes that I was on the air, except for three people who I will talk about in a moment.

Let me be clear: if there had been other visitors in this park, I would have been sensitive to the situation and probably not activated.

Even though I had researched the rules for activating this park, I still activate under the premise that it is better to ask forgiveness than permission. What that means is, if rules don’t specifically say I can’t, then I am not going to be going around asking for permission. I will, however, still use common sense and NOT be sticking stakes in the ground or trying to throw wires up in the trees.

I chose the pedestrian mobile configuration for my KH-1 because other than a short counterpoise wire and my notebook, all radio gear was held in my hands.

As always, I use earbuds so that I am not making any noise with my setup.

As the contacts started trickling in, I noticed a park ranger walk out to the reflection pool in front of me. He would glance over at me, then he would stare up at the sky. He would turn, look over at me again, then stare up at the sky a while longer. The park ranger was one of the three individuals I saw in the park during my activation.

After a few minutes, I noticed that the ranger had left, but I began to feel like someone was standing behind me just out of my field of view. Sure enough, it was the same ranger now standing behind me. I thought about saying something, but I was busy as the contacts slowly kept coming. Eventually, the park ranger broke the silence coming into my field of view saying, “Good morning sir, do you have any questions for me about the park?” I replied with a polite, “No thank you sir, I appreciate it!” He replied, “Okay, by the way, what are you doing?” I explained the basics of POTA/ham radio/Morse code, and also added that “If I was doing anything wrong, I would be glad to leave immediately.” The park ranger quickly said, “No, you’re fine. Looks like fun. Have a great morning.” After the park ranger left, I did not see him again.

A few minutes later… the second person came into my field of view. This person was a uniformed armed security guard. He was wearing a gray uniform shirt and black tactical-style pants, along with the usual duty belt load-out. I believe he came over from the federal courthouse just across the street. His approach was a lot more direct. “Hey bud, you’re not flying a drone here, right?” I assured him that I wasn’t and explained POTA to him. He was actually genuinely very interested in ham radio.

During this conversation, N7MEB was calling me. I was still a little flustered by the armed officer showing up. I had to ask Beth at least five repeats before I got her call sign correct. The security guard was impressed that I was currently working an operator in Utah with my tiny radio. I politely apologized to him that I was actively getting called at that moment and was busy. He responded with a friendly, “Good luck and have fun.”

Fourteen of my contacts were on the 20M band, but after a few minutes of no responses I moved to 17M. As soon as my first caller began transmitting on the 17M band, an Oklahoma City Police officer suddenly walked up to me and said, “Good! You’re not flying a drone! Have a good day!” He was gone as suddenly as he appeared. I never even had a chance to say anything. Haha

I am guessing that someone at the federal courthouse across the street was watching me on their security cameras, and they were the ones all concerned about me flying a drone.

There are signs posted on both sides of the park entrances forbidding the use of drones over this memorial. I genuinely believe if I had asked permission to do an activation, that I would have been flatly refused. The very sound of asking to set up a “radio station” inside a small memorial park sounds ridiculous, even to me.

Each authority figure who approached me was completely fine with what I was doing as long as I was not flying a drone. Now that I have been vetted by a federal park ranger, federal armed security guard, and city police, hopefully, after seeing my low-profile rig in action, the idea of a ham setting up a radio station in their park will no longer sound as crazy to them.

One good impression at a time with local authorities builds the goodwill for the next op. Let’s be respectful and get out there and activate. We don’t need big antennas/1000Qs in the log, and POTA banners blowing in the breeze for a successful activation.

72 thanks for hunting
~ N4MJL