America’s fallen warriors remembered
Clinton, Norris host ceremonies to pay tribute
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Members of the Navy JROTC at Oak Ridge High School present the colors during Monday morning’s Memorial Day ceremony in front of the Anderson County Court- house in Clinton. - G. Chambers Williams III
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Some of those attending the Memorial Day program in front of the Anderson County Courthouse on Monday heard speakers talk about the importance of remembering those who died in service to our country in the defense of freedom. - G. Chambers Williams III
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Brig. Gen. Steven Turner, left, Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank and state Rep. John Ragan stand in front of the Anderson County Veterans Memorial outside the courthouse during the playing of “Taps” on Monday after placing a wreath in front of the monument. - G. Chambers Williams III
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Brig. Gen. Steven Turn- er addresses the crowd during Monday morning’s Memorial Day program outside the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton. - G. Chambers Williams III
Members of the U.S. Armed Forces in Anderson County and across the nation who died either in battle or as a result of enemy action were remembered and honored in Memorial Day ceremonies held Monday morning in downtown Clinton and Norris.
Brig. Gen. Steven Turner, a Clinton native who oversees Army troops across Tennessee, said he was there to help “pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.”
The ceremony in Clinton was held next to the monument outside the county courthouse that honors the 181 fallen heroes from Anderson County.
“Our monument here in the county has the names of all those residents from Anderson County [who] have died … of wounds directly related to combat all the way back to the Revolutionary War,” Turner said.
Also speaking at the Clinton event were Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank and Tennessee state Rep. John Ragan, both of whom who joined Turner at the conclusion of his remarks to place a commemorative wreath at the base of the monument.
“I am so incredibly inspired and grateful to live in a county and a community that is so devoted to gathering each Memorial Day to remember and to give full honor to the lives of those who boldly lived and [who] stepped forward and answered America’s call to action, and died in service to our beloved country,” Mayor Frank said.
“We do remember, we honor, and we proudly stand with our families who are left behind. May you find comfort in today’s honoring of your loved one,” she said. “ … We pay tribute to those who have acted to defend America and her values. And we respect those who have sacrificed for freedom.
“Liberty is no coincidence,” Frank said. “We owe a debt to those who fought for us.”
Also participating in the Clinton ceremony were the Volunteer State Honor Guard, the Navy JROTC from Oak Ridge High School, Chaplain Don Moore of Anderson County American Legion Post 172, and Molly Duggins, who sang the national anthem. Anderson County Veterans Service Officer Scott Nation led the ceremony.
In Norris, the Memorial Day program was sponsored by the Norris Lions Club, assisted by student musicians from Anderson County High School.
At the flagpole in front of the Norris Post Office, the ceremony was led by Randy Kurth, master of ceremonies. Giving the invocation was the Rev. Brandon Berg, pastor of the Norris United Methodist Church.
Retired U.S. Navy Commander Thomas Mariner gave remarks, followed by U.S. Army Col. Wayne Morris conducting the honors ceremony.
Former U.S. Marine Dennis Curtin presented the colors, and retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. William “Bill” Grieve placed the annual memorial wreath, which was prepared and donated by Janet Donaldson of Keep Norris Beautiful.