OklahomaHorses Magazine November 2023

November / December 2023 • OklahomaHorses 27 That’s the role of the posse today — to educate and to preserve U.S. history that would otherwise be forgotten. Unlike Oklahoma sheriffs’ posses, the U.S. Mar- shals Posse no longer participates in law enforcement of any kind. “We’re trying to keep the history alive by being a positive presence in communities so we can let people know what the U.S. marshals did for a living and how they had to live off the land to do it,” Peterson said. The most common event at which Oklahomans interact with the U.S. Mar- shals Posse is during a hometown parade. Members of the posse are often found car- rying flags on horseback at the beginning of a parade. It’s this initial exposure that introduces people to the group. “We do parades all year long, and we could do one every other week if we want- ed to,” Peterson said with a chuckle. “The members all take a lot of pride in being a marshal and being part of the posse. We try to keep things interesting for our members by doing different things with schools, veterans, and special-needs folks.” Teaching about the history of U.S. marshals is likely the most meaningful element of the posse, but the horses gen- erally have the most impact. “Whenever we teach a class about the history of the posse, we usually surprise people at the end with a few members on their horses outside,” Peterson said. “Seeing how the faces of these kids light up when they see those horses — you can’t beat it.” A Bright Future As past vice president and board member of the Western District of Oklahoma U.S. Marshals Posse, Carter is both passionate about and invested in the success of the organization. She was instrumental in creating the curriculum used for the edu- cational arm of the posse. “The U.S. marshal has such a rich histo- ry, and we need to teach our youths about it,” Carter said. With a packed schedule every year, the U.S. Marshals Posse of Oklahoma is doing their best to keep the history alive, but it takes willing volun- teers to do the work. “A lot of our members are getting older, and we’re down to about 30 people right Once as large as 60 members, the U.S. Marshals Posse (shown here with Pistol Pete from OSU) is looking for more people to join theWestern District of Oklahoma group. The only requirements are an interest in and enthusiasm for U. S. history. Catherine Carter, pictured here with a group of young Oklahomans, has been a member of the U.S. Marshals Posse since 2010. She is responsible for the current educational curriculum used at schools and other places.