Barite rose, or more commonly known as rose rock, is the official state rock of Oklahoma. They’re known for their likeness to roses both in formation and color. Since Oklahoma House Bill 1277 was signed in 1968, or perhaps before, Oklahomans have valued these rocks—adding them to collections and handing them down. Michael Beach of Maysville, OK has a special reason for collecting rose rocks.

He initially collected the rocks to make gifts of while travelling. As he was looking for place to rest his grandfather's service patch in Normandy, he placed rose rocks on the headstones of about twenty Oklahoma soldiers in that cemetery alone. Compelled to leave a bit of Oklahoma with these soldiers left in a foreign land, he left them with rose rocks. It is now his personal mission to visit the resting place of the many Oklahomans who gave their lives in the World Wars and are buried overseas.

“We feel this is an important story of a man who recognized the sacrifice these young Oklahomans made,” said Robert Burch, producer of Back in Time. “They died so far away from home. Michael Beach sees the need to honor their memories and give a small bit of comfort to the families that have not been able to visit the graves themselves—letting them know that somebody cares.”

Back in Time: A Piece of Home is a touching look at Oklahoma’s military service in both World Wars. Specifically, telling the stories of the young soldiers with a connection to Oklahoma who never made their way back home.

Watch Back in Time: A Piece of Home

Thursday, January 9 at 7 p.m.

Thursday, January 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, January 30 at 7 p.m.