OVER A HUNDRED YEARS AGO 85,000 MEN FROM OKLAHOMA MARCHED OFF FOR FRANCE TO FIGHT IN WORLD WAR I.

726 OKLAHOMA HEROES NEVER CAME BACK.

MANY OF THEM LEFT BEHIND CHILDREN.

THEIR WIVES WERE SUDDENLY ALONE AND FOUND THEY COULDN'T SUPPORT A FAMILY.

WITH THE HELP OF A WEALTHY PONCA CITY OILMAN, THE AMERICAN LEGION STEPPED IN AND MADE A HOME FOR CHILDREN SEPARATED FROM FAMILIES BY WAR AND POVERTY.

GLENDA THORNBURG: THEY MADE IT SO MUCH LIKE HOME THERE THAT IT JUST FELT LIKE HOME.

I MEAN, IT WAS EVERY BIT AS MUCH A HOME AS WHAT THESE OTHER -- I JUST HAD A WHOLE LOT OF BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

OVER THE EIGHT DECADES THE STAFF HAS BECOME AN UNBROKEN CHAIN OF SURROGATE MOTHERS AND FATHERS TO THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN, CHILDREN WHO GREW UP IN PONCA CITY'S AMERICAN LEGION CHILDREN'S HOME AND BECAME ONE BIG FAMILY.

WORLD WAR I, LIKE MOST WARS, A LOT OF MEN DIDN'T RETURN AT ALL OR RETURNED SO DISABLED THEY WERE UNABLE TO WORK AND CARE FOR THEIR FAMILIES.

AT A TIME WHEN NOT MANY WOMEN WERE IN THE WORKFORCE, OR EVEN HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A JOB, MANY FAMILIES WERE NEARLY STARVING.

JAMIE PHILLIPS: THE AMERICAN LEGION RECOGNIZED THAT THEY WERE HAVING A LOT OF MAYBE MOTHERS THAT WERE NOW WIDOWED AND DIDN'T HAVE THE FUNDING AND THE ABILITY TO TAKE CARE OF MAYBE 10 KIDS AT A TIME.

THEY WENT TO MR.

MARLAND AND HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM ABOUT ASSISTING WITH US.

AND HE THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT IDEA AND WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORTED IT, PROVIDED THE HUNDRED ACRES THAT WE'RE AT RIGHT NOW, THE SITE WE'RE AT.

KERRI BOWMAN: THE FOUNDER OF PONCA CITY, E. W. MARLAND AND HIS FRIEND BILL MCFADDEN PUT SOME MONEY TOGETHER, THEY WERE VERY CHARITABLE PEOPLE, AND WORKED WITH THE AMERICAN LEGION IN ORDER TO START.

BACK THEN THERE WAS NO DHS AND, YOU KNOW, STATE SERVICES LIKE THERE ARE TODAY THAT WOULD COME IN AND TAKE OVER; FAMILIES WOULD JUST BE ON THEIR OWN.

KERRI BOWMAN: AT ONE POINT THERE WERE OVER 200 CHILDREN LIVING HERE.

WHILE CONSTRUCTION WAS UNDERWAY, AN INITIAL STUDY SHOWED THAT 500 CHILDREN WERE IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE, BUT THERE WAS ROOM FOR ONLY 40 FOR THE FIRST TWO UNITS.

AT THE START MR.

MARLAND SPOKE ABOUT BUILDING THE HOME FOR VETERANS' CHILDREN AND LATER TURNING IT INTO AN OLD SOLDIERS' HOME, BUT THAT PLAN WAS FORGOTTEN.

KERRI BOWMAN: THIS IS A BIG PIECE OF PROPERTY HERE, AND THIS HOME ACTUALLY SITS ON THE HIGHEST POINT IN KAY COUNTY RIGHT HERE ON THIS HILL.

SO MR.

MARLAND PERCHED THEM RIGHT HERE ON TOP OF THIS HILL OVERLOOKING THE REFINERY THAT HE BUILT MILES IN THE DISTANCE, AND NEAR THE RIVER.

AND IT CERTAINLY WASN'T SOMETHING THAT HE TOOK LIGHTLY AND SAID, I'M GOING TO THROW TOGETHER SOMETHING FOR THESE KIDS TO LIVE IN.

I MEAN, HE GAVE THEM HIS BEST PIECE OF LAND AND HE BUILT BUILDINGS WITH THE SAME ARCHITECT THAT HE BUILT HIS MANSION WITH.

SO HE CERTAINLY CARED SO MUCH FOR THEM, AND I THINK THAT HAS BEEN PASSED DOWN OVER THE GENERATIONS.

ON JUNE 17, 1928, THE AMERICAN LEGION CHILDREN'S HOME WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED IN PONCA CITY.

THE CHILDREN WERE THERE TO MEET THE GUESTS; THEY MIXED IN WITH THE CROWD, STOPPED AND SPOKE WITH ANYONE WHO WOULD LISTEN.

ONE TOWHEADED BOY SAID HE HAD MOVED IN JUST A WEEK BEFORE.

HOW DO YOU LIKE IT HERE, HE WAS ASKED.

HIS ANSWER WAS DIRECT.

MISTER, THEY SURE DO FEED GOOD!

MADELINE MOSES WAS JUST THREE YEARS OLD WHEN SHE AND HER TWIN BROTHER CAME TO THE HOMESCHOOL IN 1929.

MADELINE MOSES: THE DEPRESSION, AND THEY GET A DIVORCE, AND MY MOTHER WENT THAT WAY AND MY FATHER WAS THAT WAY.

AND HE MARRIED AGAIN.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE MY MOTHER WAS.

I THINK SHE LIVED WITH HER SISTER IN COLORADO.

I HAD A TWIN BROTHER AND TWO OTHER BROTHERS THAT NEVER WERE AT THE HOME THAT WERE OLDER.

AT THAT TIME MY FATHER HAD ALL US KIDS, HE MUST'VE HAD SOMETHING WRONG WITH HIM BECAUSE HE HAD TO GO TO THE DOCTOR.

THE DOCTOR TOLD HIM THAT THEY WERE BUILDING THIS HOME UP IN PONCA CITY.

AND SO BEING AS HOW THE OLDER BOYS COULD TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES, HE KEPT THEM AT HOME AND PUT MARVIN AND I IN, AS WE CALLED IT, THE HOME SCHOOL.

JAMIE PHILLIPS: SOMETIMES YOU DID SEE SIBLING SETS BREAK UP BECAUSE MAYBE THE MOTHER WOULD CHOOSE TO KEEP THE YOUNGER CHILDREN AND SEND THE OLDER CHILDREN HERE.

SOMETIMES THEY DIDN'T HAVE THAT LUXURY.

MADELINE AND MARVIN, THE PHOTOGENIC TWINS, POSED WITH GOVERNOR MARLAND ON ONE OF HIS VISITS TO THE HOME.

MADELINE MOSES: EVERY TIME SOMEONE CAME TO VISIT, BIG TIME PEOPLE, GET THE TWINS.

SO I HAVE PICTURES OF THEM WITH US.

THEY WERE JUST OPENING THE HOMESCHOOL AT THE TIME.

THERE WAS A BIG SIGN WHERE YOU TURN IN AND IT SAID "AMERICAN LEGION HOMESCHOOL."

THERE WASN'T A SCHOOL, BUT THEY CALLED IT THE SCHOOL.

WE WENT TO SCHOOL IN PONCA CITY.

MY BROTHER, MARVIN, HE WAS IN THE BOYS BUILDING.

BUT HE WAS VERY SMART, ESPECIALLY IN MATH, WHICH IS MY DOWNFALL.

I JUST COULD NOT GET MATH.

I DID WELL, LIKE, IN OTHER THINGS.

ACROBATICS, WE GIRLS, THE OLDER GIRLS TAUGHT ME HOW TO DO ACROBATICS.

AND THERE WAS, WE HAD A -- WE HAD A GUY FROM TOWN THAT CAME OUT WITH A CHUNK OF ICE AND CUT UP THE ICE AND OF COURSE WE WERE RIGHT THERE WAITING FOR A PIECE OF ICE, YOU KNOW.

THAT'S HOW THEY GOT ME TO DO ACROBATICS; THEY WOULD GIVE ME A PIECE OF ICE.

THE STRONGEST BONDS WERE FORMED BETWEEN THE CHILDREN AND THEIR NEW GUARDIANS.

JAMIE PHILLIPS: THEY WERE VERY ATTACHED.

I MEAN, THIS WAS THEIR NEW FAMILY, THEIR FAMILY AWAY FROM FAMILY.

IF THEIR PARENTS WERE KILLED, DAD WAS KILLED IN THE WAR, AND MAYBE MOM WASN'T AVAILABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM, THIS WAS THEIR SURROGATE FAMILY.

AND SO YOU'VE SEEN SOME VERY STRONG BONDS BETWEEN THE STAFF AND THE CHILDREN HERE.

IT WAS AS IF YOU WERE A PARENT TO 10 OR 20 OR 30 CHILDREN POSSIBLY IN YOUR DORMITORY.

SO YOU WERE UP MAYBE NIGHTS WITH THE KIDS, YOU WERE UP AT THE CRACK OF DAWN WITH THE KIDS, MAKING SURE ALL THE CHORES WERE GETTING DONE.

MADELINE MOSES: WE GOT UP EARLY IN THE MORNING AND SOME OF THE GIRLS WERE ASSIGNED TO THE DINING ROOM.

WE HAD A COOK FOR EACH BUILDING.

AND THE GIRLS WERE ASSIGNED TO THEM.

SHE DID THE COOKING AND THE GIRLS PUT IT ALL TOGETHER AND PUT IT ON THE TABLES, AND WE HAD BELLS THAT RANG.

IN THE EVENING WE HAD THE BELL, WHERE THE BELL HANGS, AND THERE'S A ROPE THAT COMES DOWN FROM THE BELL, AND WE LOVED TO GET ON THAT ROPE AND SWING ON IT, WHICH WE WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO DO.

WE DID A LOT OF THINGS WE WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO DO.

BY THE 1930'S NEEDS HAD CHANGED.

THE DUST BOWL AND DEPRESSION FORCED PARENTS TO MAKE TOUGH CHOICES, TO GIVE UP THEIR CHILDREN OR SEE THEM STARVE.

THE ORPHANAGE HAD BECOME A REFUGE AND THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN GREW.

KERRI BOWMAN'S GREAT-GRANDFATHER BROUGHT HIS TWO DAUGHTERS TO THE HOME.

KERRI BOWMAN: HE WAS DISTRAUGHT; HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW HE WAS GOING TO FEED HIS CHILDREN.

AND SO SOMEBODY CAME FROM THE AMERICAN LEGION, I DON'T KNOW IF HE CALLED SOMEONE FOR HELP OR HOW THAT HAPPENED, BUT THEY CAME AND GOT THE TWO OLDER GIRLS AND BROUGHT THEM HERE.

AND THEY CAME HERE TO LIVE AT THE HOME.

SHE HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE.

SHE FELT THAT THEY WERE FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO BE HERE.

SHE HAD OPPORTUNITIES AND EXPERIENCES AND TRAINING, SOCIALLY SPEAKING, HERE THAT SHE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD EVEN GROWING UP AT HOME BECAUSE THE FAMILY WAS VERY POOR.

AND SO BACK THEN THEY LIVED THE GOOD LIFE, BETTER THAN MOST OTHER KIDS, BECAUSE THEY GOT TO DO THINGS THAT A LOT OF OTHER KIDS DIDN'T REGULARLY GET TO DO.

WITH THE ONSET OF WORLD WAR II, THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN GREW TO ABOUT 200.

NEW DORMITORIES WERE ADDED TO HOUSE THEM ALL.

JOANNE MONGER CAME TO THE AMERICAN LEGION HOME IN 1941.

JOANNE MONGER: THE KIDS WHO WERE OUT THERE THEN WERE THERE BECAUSE, LIKE, THEIR DADS WERE IN THE SERVICE, OR THEIR MOMS AND DADS COULDN'T RAISE THEM BECAUSE IT WAS JUST HARD TIMES BACK THEN.

MOTHER HAD SEVEN OF US, SO FIVE OF US WENT TO THE HOME.

SHE KEPT MY OLDEST SISTER AND TWO BROTHERS AND, OF COURSE, MY BROTHERS WENT INTO THE SERVICE.

WE DIDN'T SEE HER VERY OFTEN.

SHE LIVED OUT IN WESTERN OKLAHOMA AND SHE DIDN'T HAVE ANY TRANSPORTATION.

SHE FINALLY REMARRIED AND WAS SUPPOSED TO TRY TO GET US OUT, AND MY DAD FOUND OUT.

HE WAS A MAN WITH AN ALCOHOLIC.

AND MY DAD STOPPED IT.

HE SAID, NO, YOU CAN'T TAKE THEM OUT OF THERE.

WE WERE MAD AT MY DAD FOR A LONG TIME, BUT THAT WAS WHAT WAS BEST FOR US.

IT WAS WONDERFUL WHEN I WAS OUT THERE.

IT WAS -- I MEAN, WE WENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WE WENT TO THE FIRST BAPTIST, I WAS RAISED IN THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, AND IT WAS WONDERFUL WHEN I WAS OUT THERE.

AT ONE TIME I THINK WE HAD 50 BOYS AND 50 GIRLS.

THEN WE HAD THE BIG BOYS BUILDING AND THE LITTLE BOYS BUILDING.

THE GIRLS BUILDINGS WERE THE TWO BIG BUILDINGS THERE.

THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING OR THE OFFICE WAS IN THE GIRLS BUILDING THERE IN THE MIDDLE, WHAT WERE THE LITTLE GIRLS BUILDING.

WE DIDN'T HAVE PRIVATE ROOMS.

WE WOULD SIT IN THIS LITTLE HALLWAY THAT'S ABOUT LIKE THIS ONE, ALL OF US, AND LISTEN TO THE HIT PARADE ON SATURDAY NIGHTS BACK THEN.

SOMETIMES THEY HAD COOKIES FOR US, BUT NOT VERY OFTEN.

WE DIDN'T HAVE PRIVATE ROOMS.

FUNNY THING WE DIDN'T THINK ABOUT, WE HAD JUST A REGULAR BATHROOM BETWEEN THE TWO DORMS.

THERE WAS ONE BATHTUB, ONE SINK.

WE ALL MANAGED.

WE NEVER THOUGHT A THING ABOUT IT, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DID IT, BUT WE DID IT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW WE DECIDED WHO WAS GOING TO BRUSH THEIR TEETH FIRST OR WHATEVER.

FOR THE BOYS AND THE GIRLS, ONCE THE DAY BEGAN, THERE WAS A LOT TO KEEP THEM OCCUPIED.

WE GOT UP PROBABLY ABOUT 6:00 OR 7:00 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING.

YOU GOT UP, YOU HAD 15 MINUTES TO DRESS, MAKE YOUR BEDS AND GET WHAT WE CALLED YOUR DUTY.

YOU HAD A DUTY FOR A MONTH REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT WAS CLEANING THE DORM OR WORKING IN THE KITCHEN OR WORKING IN THE DINING ROOM.

KERRI BOWMAN: THE KIDS WERE VERY ENCOURAGED TO BE VERY INVOLVED.

THEY WERE IN A LOT OF CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS, AND THEY PLAYED FOOTBALL AND THEY WERE IN BAND, AND THEY DID EVERYTHING THAT ALL THE OTHER KIDS DID, YOU KNOW, IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

IN ADDITION, I REMEMBER SOME OF THE BOYS TALKING ABOUT GETTING UP IN THE MORNING AND WORKING TO HELP BUILD THE GYMNASIUM, THEN THEY WENT TO SCHOOL, THEN WENT TO FOOTBALL PRACTICE, THEN THEY WENT HOME AND ATE, AND THEN FINISHED HELPING TO BUILD THE GYMNASIUM.

GLENDA THORNBURG REMEMBERS ROLLER SKATING IN THE GYM WHEN IT WAS FINISHED.

SHE GREW UP AT THE HOME IN THE '50'S.

GLENDA THORNBURG: MY MOTHER AND FATHER DIVORCED.

MY FATHER WAS MILITARY AND SO SINCE HE WAS MILITARY, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE STATE TOOK ME AWAY FROM MY FATHER.

I WAS LIVING WITH MY FATHER AND THE STATE TOOK ME AWAY FROM MY FATHER WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG.

I GUESS HE COULDN'T CARE FOR ME, AND SO THE STATE TOOK ME AWAY.

AND SINCE HE WAS MILITARY, I GET THE PRIVILEGE OF GOING TO THE AMERICAN LEGION HOME.

I JUST -- I DON'T KNOW HOW OLD I WAS THERE WHEN I WENT THERE.

I WAS JUST ALWAYS THERE.

I MEAN, AS A CHILD, I JUST REMEMBER ALWAYS BEING THERE.

IT WAS GREAT, I MEAN, BEING OUT WITH THE OTHER KIDS AND GETTING TO MINGLE WITH OTHER KIDS.

IT WAS VERY GOOD.

I THINK IT HELPED US BE A LITTLE MORE ROUNDED.

YOU KNOW, KIDS BACK IN THOSE DAYS DIDN'T MAKE FUN OF YOU FOR BEING FROM THERE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THEY BECAME PART OF THE COMMUNITY IN PONCA CITY, ABLE TO SEE AND DO EVERYTHING AND MORE THAN MOST KIDS WHO LIVED IN PRIVATE HOMES.

EACH SUMMER THEY WERE ENTERTAINED BY THE 101 RANCH RODEO, THEY WENT TO TULSA TO THE SHRINE CIRCUS.

THE POLICEMEN OF PONCA CITY TREATED THEM TO FISH FRIES AND PIZZA PARTIES.

THE FIREMEN TOOK THEM TO OKLAHOMA CITY TO THE ZOO AND TO SPRING LAKE AMUSEMENT PARK FOR PICNICS.

THEY BELONGED TO THE 4H CLUB AND THE FFA.

MANY OF THE CHILDREN HAD DUTIES THAT INCLUDED TAKING CARE OF THE SMALL FARM ON THE PROPERTY WHERE THEY GATHERED THE EGGS, WATERED THE CROPS AND MILKED THE COWS.

GLENDA THORNBURG: THE OLDER KIDS WORKED IN THE FARMS AND WITH THE COWS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

AS I WAS OLDER, JUST BEFORE I LEFT, I WAS OLD ENOUGH TO GO DOWN AND WORK IN THE FARM A LITTLE BIT.

IT WAS FUN.

I STILL TO THIS DAY ENJOY HAVING A GOOD GARDEN, AND WE LIVE IN THE COUNTRY, AND I STILL ENJOY HAVING A GARDEN AND COWS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY PART OF IT BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE WERE RAISED.

MADELINE MOSES: WE GOT TO GO TO THE MOVIES ONCE A WEEK ON SATURDAY.

THAT WAS FREE.

PONCA CITY DID EVERYTHING FOR US.

WE WERE FREE.

EVERYTHING FOR THE HOMESCHOOL WAS FREE, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, OUR SWIMMING AND OUR MOVIES AND MOST EVERYTHING THAT WE DID BECAUSE THE LEGIONNAIRES WERE BEHIND ALL THIS.

GLENDA THORNBURG: THERE WAS A PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL THERE IN PONCA CITY, AND DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS WE WOULD GET THERE OCCASIONALLY AND GO SWIMMING.

IT WAS A LOT OF FUN, TOO.

KERRI BOWMAN: THERE ARE CONSTANT DONATIONS COMING IN, WHETHER THEY ARE FOR SPORTS EQUIPMENT, SUMMER, YOU KNOW, SUNSCREEN AND SUNGLASSES, OR THEY'LL JUST DO A BED AND BATH CAMPAIGN AND PEOPLE WILL SEND TOWELS AND SHAMPOO AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

AND IT'S JUST VARIOUS PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, BUSINESSES BUT ALSO INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY.

THEY HAVE TUTORS WHO WILL COME IN AND TUTOR THE CHILDREN FOR SCHOOL, JUST VOLUNTEER TUTORS, MAYBE FORMER TEACHERS, MAYBE PEOPLE THAT JUST LOVE TO BE AROUND CHILDREN.

AND THEY ARE INVOLVED IN -- THE KIDS VOLUNTEER AT THE HUMANE SOCIETY AND THEY GET INVOLVED IN DIFFERENT PROJECTS AND COMMUNITY SERVICE AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE SO THEY CAN ALSO GIVE BACK.

WE DID GO TO THE MOVIES.

IN FACT, THEY WOULD HAVE MOVIES THERE SOMETIMES AT -- DOWN IN THE GYM.

WE COULD GO DOWN THERE AND WATCH THE MOVIES DOWN IN THE GYM.

GLENDA THORNBURG: WE GOT TO PLAY OUTSIDE AFTER SCHOOL.

WE PLAYED OUT IN THE BACK OF OUR DORMS; WE HAD A NICE LITTLE PLAY AREA.

AND WE WOULD PLAY OUT THERE, AND THEN THERE WAS A BIG TREE OUT FRONT AND WE WOULD CLIMB THE TREES AND JUST HAD -- PLAYED ALL THE TIME, IT SEEMED LIKE, JUST LIKE A NORMAL CHILD.

I MEAN, REALLY WAS PRETTY MUCH A NORMAL, NORMAL CHILDHOOD.

ON THE FOURTH OF JULY THERE WERE FIRECRACKERS AND PICNICS.

EVERY EVENING BEFORE CHRISTMAS THEY DECORATED A BIG TREE IN THE LIVING ROOM WITH STRINGS OF POPCORN, CRANBERRIES, SILVER ICICLES AND COLORED LIGHTS.

ON CHRISTMAS MORNING THERE WAS A CLOWN WITH A PIG AND A DOG THAT CAME TO ENTERTAIN THE CHILDREN.

THEN SANTA CLAUS HANDED OUT THE PRESENTS.

JAMIE PHILLIPS: I THINK PROBABLY CHRISTMAS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SPEAKS TO ME THE MOST BECAUSE SO MANY KIDS CAME IN HERE WITH NO CONCEPT OF ANY KIND OF CHRISTMAS TRADITION.

SEEING THEM OPEN GIFTS FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THAT AWARENESS THAT SOMEONE THAT DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ME REALLY PUT THIS TOGETHER AND DID THIS FOR ME IS VERY IMPACTFUL.

JOANNE MONGER: I CAN REMEMBER ONE TIME SMITTY, WE CALLED HIM, HIS LAST NAME WAS -- HE HAD SMITTY'S DOWNTOWN, A MEN'S STORE.

AND HE PLAYED SANTA CLAUS AND CAME OUT THERE AND HE WAS SANTA CLAUS FOR THAT DAY.

KERRI BOWMAN: EVERY CHILD WAS SPONSORED BY AN AMERICAN LEGION POST AND/OR UNIT AROUND THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

SO EVERY CHILD HAD, FOR INSTANCE, STILLWATER WOULD BE THEIR SPONSORING POST, AND STILLWATER WOULD PROVIDE THEM WITH THEIR CHRISTMAS GIFTS.

KERRI BOWMAN: BUT YOU JUST HAD EVERY YEAR KIDS THAT WOULD JUST SIT THERE AND NOT EVEN KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH OPENING ALL OF THESE GIFTS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE 10 OR 12 GIFTS MAYBE, SMALL AND LARGE, AND THEY WOULD -- MAYBE YOU WOULD HAVE A BOY AND HE WOULD SAY, I'M GOING TO OPEN THESE IN MY ROOM LATER, LIKE HE JUST COULDN'T HOLD IT TOGETHER EVEN WITHOUT BREAKING DOWN TO HAVE THOSE GIFTS IN FRONT OF PEOPLE.

IT'S ALWAYS JUST LIFE-CHANGING TO BE HERE.

OUR FAMILY COMES HERE EVERY CHRISTMAS BECAUSE IT IS JUST SO BOTH HEARTWARMING AND HEARTBREAKING AT THE SAME TIME TO SEE THE JOY IN THE FACE BUT TO SEE SO MANY KIDS, EVEN TEENAGERS, WHO HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S JUST ASTONISHING WHEN -- IT'S JUST AMAZING TO SEE THEM EXPERIENCE THAT.

THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE HOME SCHOOL WAS THE FATHER FIGURE.

THE MAIN ROAD TO THE HOME IS NAMED AFTER THE MAN WHO TOOK CHARGE IN 1952, EARL SUMMERS.

KERRI BOWMAN: MOST OF THEM GREW UP WITH MR.

AND MRS.

SUMMERS OVER IN THE HOME.

GLENDA THORNBURG: HE WAS VERY -- HE RULED THE ROOST.

HE LAID THE RULES DOWN.

AND YOU KIND OF FOLLOWED THE RULES.

AND IF YOU GOT INTO TROUBLE, SOMETIMES YOU HAD TO GO SEE HIM.

HE WASN'T MEAN BUT HE WAS THE ONE, THE FATHER FIGURE.

IF YOU CROSS THE LINE, YOU WOULD GO SPEAK WITH HIM.

JAMIE PHILLIPS: MR.

SUMMERS AND HIS WIFE LIVED IN THAT COTTAGE AND THEY ACTUALLY ENDED UP ADOPTING TWO OF THE CHILDREN FROM THE HOME.

THEY POUR THEIR HEARTS AND LIVES INTO THIS.

THIS WAS THEIR ENTIRE LIVES.

AT SOME POINT MR.

SUMMERS, AS THE STORY GOES, MR.

SUMMERS CAUGHT TWO YOUNG MEN CLIMBING OUT THEIR WINDOWS TO MEET SOME OF THE YOUNG LADIES AND WAS CHASING THEM ACROSS THE CAMPUS AND HAD A HEART ATTACK AND PASSED AWAY.

MOST CHILDREN CAME WITH BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND STAYED 10 TO 15 YEARS UNTIL THEY GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

EVENTUALLY FOR EACH CHILD THERE CAME A TIME TO SAY GOODBYE TO THEIR FAMILY AT THE HOME AND MAKE THEIR WAY OUT INTO THE WORLD.

GLENDA THORNBURG: IT'S -- I CAN REMEMBER WHEN I LEFT, I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE AND I WAS VERY SAD AND I CRIED A LOT FOR DAYS WHEN I LEFT.

UNFORTUNATELY, I LEFT BEFORE I WAS 18.

I LEFT WHEN I WAS 13 OR 14.

MY REAL MOTHER FOUND ME AND SO SHE CAME AND GOT ME AT THAT TIME.

IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO GO FROM A VERY CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT, KNOWING EVERY DAY EXACTLY WHAT WAS EXPECTED OF YOU, AND MOVING INTO A HOME WITH A BUNCH OF STRANGERS.

AND THAT'S -- I WAS MOVING IN WITH MY MOM AND MY STEPFATHER, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

SO IT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT TRANSITION AT FIRST, A VERY DIFFERENT LIFESTYLE.

KERRI BOWMAN: IF THEY GET OUT OF SCHOOL OR DROP OUT OF SCHOOL OR FINISH SCHOOL, THEY HAVE TO GO.

SO TRANSITIONING THEM INTO ADULTHOOD IS A HUGE OBSTACLE HERE.

I MEAN, THEY HAVE NUMEROUS WHAT THEY CALL TRANSITION MEETINGS UP UNTIL THE TIME THE CHILD ACTUALLY LEAVES, SO THEY START THAT, REALLY, WHEN THEY'RE ABOUT 16.

LIKE, WHAT'S YOUR PLAN A?

WHAT'S YOUR PLAN B?

WHAT'S YOUR PLAN C?

WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO WORK?

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO LIVE?

JAMIE PHILLIPS: AND IT MAY BE EVERYTHING FROM HOW TO WRITE A CHECK AND BALANCE YOUR BANK BOOK TO DRIVERS ED SKILLS, HOW TO PUT GAS IN THE TANK, HOW TO MAKE A BUDGET, HOW TO SHOP THE GROCERY STORE FOR NUTRITIOUS FOOD, HOW TO COOK, ALL OF THOSE THINGS THAT THEY ABSOLUTELY NEED TO GET FROM SOMEWHERE, AND WE MAKE THAT A PRIORITY HERE.

KERRI BOWMAN: THERE IS A POSITION HERE THAT IS CALLED AN INDEPENDENT LIVING COORDINATOR, AND THAT IS THAT PERSON'S SPECIFIC JOB, IS, ONCE THE KIDS TURNED 16, THEY'RE WORKING WITH THEM ON, HOW WOULD YOU GO GROCERY SHOPPING, HOW WOULD YOU LOOK FOR AN APARTMENT, HOW DO YOU MAKE YOUR OWN DOCTORS' APPOINTMENTS, AND ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS WE JUST -- OUR KIDS JUST PICK UP FROM US.

THE PULL OF HOME AND THE DESIRE TO BE WITH FAMILY IS STRONG, AND IN 1983 A REUNION OF THE BIGGEST FAMILY IN OKLAHOMA CAME TOGETHER IN PONCA CITY.

120 EX-RESIDENTS SHARED TEARS, MEMORIES AND LAUGHTER.

THEY PORED OVER OLD PHOTOS AND WALKED THE GROUNDS OF THEIR OLD HOME.

ALTHOUGH THEY WERE SEPARATED FOR YEARS BY MILES, CAREERS, NEW FAMILY TIES AND EVEN WIDE DIFFERENCES IN AGE, THERE IS A BOND BETWEEN THEM THAT ONLY THEY UNDERSTAND.

THEY LEFT WITH A PLEDGE TO MEET AGAIN, AND OVER THE YEARS THEY HAVE.

KERRI BOWMAN: THEY'VE ALL MANAGED TO GET TOGETHER AT LEAST ANNUALLY, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, AND USUALLY IN SOME DIFFERENT FORM IN DIFFERENT PLACES.

THEY'VE COME HERE TO THE CHILDREN'S HOME SEVERAL TIMES AND ADMIRED ALL OF THE GRADUATES' PICTURES ON THE WALL IN THE CAFETERIA.

I MEAN, THEY WERE ALL THEY HAD AT ONE POINT IN THEIR LIVES.

SO THEY REALLY DO ACT LIKE WHAT I WOULD SEE AT MY FAMILY REUNION WITH COUSINS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, SO IT'S EXCITING TO SEE THEM ALL STAYING CONNECTED.

JAMIE PHILLIPS: WHAT'S INTERESTING, I THINK, IS THE CONNECTIONS THAT WE STILL HAVE TODAY THAT THAT LEGACY STILL KIND OF LIVES ON AND, I MEAN, WE STILL HAVE STAFF MEMBERS THAT, I MEAN, THEY HAVE SOUGHT OUT EMPLOYMENT HERE BECAUSE THIS HOME MADE AN IMPACT ON THEIR ANCESTORS, ON THEIR GRANDPARENTS, ON THEIR UNCLES AND SO THEY WANT TO GIVE BACK TO THE HOME.

WE STILL STRIVE FOR THE FAMILY TYPE ATMOSPHERE AND TO MAKE THE KIDS COMFORTABLE, WARM, WELCOMING TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT.

THERE IS MORE OF A TREATMENT APPROACH; THE CHILDREN THAT WE HAVE, OBVIOUSLY, ARE EXTREMELY TRAUMATIZED CHILDREN.

THEY'VE HAD ENORMOUS LOSS, HAVE SUFFERED ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND THEREFORE SOMETIMES STRUGGLE WHEN DEALING WITH SOME OF THAT THAT THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED.

JOANNE MONGER: IT WAS WONDERFUL AS FAR AS I -- WE JUST TOOK IT FOR GRANTED, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT'S THE WAY THINGS WERE.

WE WERE HAPPY, YOU KNOW.

WE DIDN'T KNOW ANY DIFFERENT, I GUESS.

BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS A WONDERFUL PLACE WHEN I WAS OUT THERE.

GLENDA THORNBURG: THEY PROVIDED US WITH A HOME AND THEY PROVIDED US WITH THE SOCIAL LIFE THAT WE NEEDED AND THE THINGS THAT WE NEEDED TO LIVE.

AND HOW CAN YOU NOT LOOK AT THEM AND ADMIRE THEM FOR THAT?

I HADN'T BEEN THERE FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING AROUND ONE DAY AND I SAID, LET'S GO SEE IF IT'S STILL THERE.

AND SURE ENOUGH IT WAS.

IT WAS A VERY EMOTIONAL DAY FOR ME BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN SO MANY YEARS SINCE I HAD BEEN THERE.

I THINK I AM VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO THERE.

I BELIEVE THAT IS WHY I AM WHO I AM TODAY, BECAUSE OF THAT.

AFTER FOUR GENERATIONS THE HOME CONTINUES TO WELCOME CHILDREN IN NEED UNDER ITS NEW NAME, THE MARLAND CHILDREN'S HOME.

IT IS UNIQUE AND THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD.

WHEN GOVERNOR MARLAND DEDICATED THE HOME SCHOOL, HE COULD NOT HAVE SEEN THAT THERE WOULD BE CHILDREN OF VETERANS STILL NEEDING HELP SO FAR IN THE FUTURE.

FOR ALMOST A HUNDRED YEARS KIDS HAVE GROWN UP ON THIS HILL OVERLOOKING PONCA CITY.

MANY HAVE GONE INTO THE SERVICE AND BECOME MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION THEMSELVES.

OTHERS HAVE COME BACK HERE TO WORK, BECOMING HOUSE PARENTS, WANTING TO GIVE BACK, AND UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS ONE BIG FAMILY.

MADELINE MOSES: THERE IS EVEN A SONG THAT GOES WITH IT.

I'M PROBABLY THE ONLY ONE THAT REMEMBERS IT.

HOMESCHOOL!

OH, YES, WE ARE FROM THE HOMESCHOOL.

THE AMERICAN LEGION HOMESCHOOL, YES, SIR!

SCHOOL IS A GROWIN' AND MAKING A BETTER SHOWIN', AND/OR UP AND A-GOIN', YEAH!

SOME FOLKS WONDER WHY WE LOOK SO GAY.

WHEN THEY LOOK AT US LIKE THIS WE ALWAYS ANSWER, HOMESCHOOL!

HOMESCHOOL!

OH, YES, WE ARE FROM THE HOMESCHOOL!

AMERICAN LEGION HOMESCHOOL!

FROM THE HOMESCHOOL.

RAH!

RAH!

RAH!

SO WE WOULD SING THAT ON THE BUS ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL.

NEXT TIME -- ANYTHING THAT GROWS GOES.

IT'S