HONORING OUR SOLDIERS: Red, white and blue pride shown during Armed Forces Day

By CHARLES W. JOHNSON / News Editor for the Southern Standard

Rock Island Boy Scout Troop 301 marches away after the posting of colors ceremony at the Armed Forces Day celebration at the Court Square gazebo yesterday. (Charles W. Johnson photo)

Court Square was a proud symbol of patriotism yesterday as American flags graced the sky. The flags were part of Armed Forces Day ceremonies to honor America’s soldiers.

Retired Col. Thomas Vaughn acted as master of ceremonies and the Silver and Gold Band played a selection of patriotic music culminating in the “Star Spangled Banner” while Rock Island Boy Scout Troop 301 performed the flag ceremony.

County Executive Kenneth Rogers and McMinnville Mayor Royce Davenport were in attendance and both men made dynamic speeches expressing admiration for our men and women in uniform and urging everyone to avoid taking them for granted.

State Rep. Judd Matheny was on hand to make a keynote speech that emphasized the importance of Tennesseans in the military from the Revolutionary War up to Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In his speech Matheny related the story of the Battle of Kings Mountain, the Revolutionary War battle where a ragtag troop of around 1,000 Tennessee militiamen – who had no formal training, uniforms or provisions – defeated the “superior forces” of noted English Col. Patrick Ferguson. Most historians agree this was a pivotal battle, changing the course of the Revolution in the South.

When someone in the crowd later commended Matheny on his knowledge of Tennessee history, Matheny replied, “I’m a history buff. I believe if we don’t know our history, we can’t really move forward.”

Central Church of Christ preacher Kirk Brothers finished the program with a reading of the poem “It’s the Soldier” by Father Edward O’Brien and concluded with the benediction.