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Montgomery County Veterans Day Ceremony and Parade says Thank You to Area Veterans

Clarksville, TN – If you ever served in the military, then Veterans Day has a special meaning to you. It recognizes the service you gave to, and the sacrifices that you made for your country. If you did not serve Veterans Day is your chance to tell the veterans of this nation Thank you for all they have done.

On Saturday morning the Montgomery County Veterans Service Organization held their annual Veterans Day Parade. The theme of the parade this year was Saluting Special Forces and the Wounded Warrior Veterans.

Service in the military is a high calling, but service in the special forces is the highest. Only the best of the best get a chance to test themselves to see if they have what it takes, and out of those only a small percentage make it through the training to join the truly Ć©lite; the Special Forces.

We as a nation looked on with pride as our special forces delivered justice to the man who masterminded the 9/11 bombings. This was the exception as most of the missions they undertake are never spoken of beyond the halls of the close-knit special operations community.

Even that pales when faced with the selflessness of those who have been injured in the line of duty. These wounded warriors bear the scars of their service for the rest of their lives, scars that go far beyond injury to skin and bones.

The Veterans Day ceremony kicked off at 9:00am and Clarksville-Montgomery County turned out in force on Saturday to recognize our servicemen both active duty, and veterans.

The laying of the wreath
The laying of the wreath

Montgomery County Veterans Service Organization Director Jerry Rivers spoke first. Then the colors were posted by the 101st Airborne Division Honor Guard, and the national anthem played. The Reverend Jerry Jenkins delivered the Invocation, he would later deliver the benediction as well. Montgomery County Mayor Carolyn Bowers and Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan both spoke. They were followed by the guest speaker, Lt. Gen. Hubert G. Smith U.S. Army Ret.

A wreath was laid by Jerry Rivers, Carolyn Bowers, and Kim McMillan, and taps was played. With the benediction closing out the ceremony.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwGya5C4APM[/youtube]

At 10:00am the parade with floats from various civic, business, and community organizations started up.

When the Military Order of the Purple Heart float approached the reviewing stand, it stopped.

Sgt. Sanchez is welcomed home by his daughter Farrah
Sgt. Sanchez is welcomed home by his daughter Farrah

Sgt. Yanier Sanchez got off the float with his arms open wide. Sanchez is one of the soldier families that is being followed by the Lifetime Television program Coming Home.

He had arrived home on the Thursday evening flight, but his 5 year old daughter Farrah  didn’t know this. So you can imagine her surprise when her Daddy suddenly appeared.

She leaped up from where she was sitting next her mom Nancy  on the bleachers by the reviewing stands and practically flew into her Daddy’s arms. You could clearly see the emotion in both of their faces, tears of joy were visible in her eyes as her dad hugged her for the first time in a year.

After a few moments together, her dad picked her up and placed her on his shoulders as they made their way to the reviewing stand. Once finished there the family was rushed to a red convertible that joined in with the parade. Their reunion starts at 20 minutes 45 seconds in the parade video below.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2suZy5lfx0[/youtube]

Parade Results

Colors and Honors

  • 1st place: Northeast High School
  • 2nd place: West Creek High School
  • 3rd place: Kenwood High School

Military Floats

  • 1st place: Chapter 457 and Auxiliary Military Order of the Purple Heart
  • 2nd place: Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1160th
  • 3rd place: Sons of the American Revolution

JROTC

  • 1st place: Northwest High School
  • 2nd place: Kenwood High School
  • 3rd place: Northeast High School

Bands

  • 1st place: Clarksville High School
  • 2nd place: North East High School
  • 3rd place: West Creek High School

Scout Floats

  • 1st place: Cub Scout Pack 550
  • 2nd place: Girl Scout Troop 771
  • 3rd place: Cub Scout Pack 506

Special category

  • 1st place: Kenwood High School cheerleaders
  • 2nd place: Hillbilly Har-lee
  • 3rd place: Filipino American International Association

Horse and Wagon

  • 1st place: Kennedy Law Firm

Commercial Floats

  • 1st place: Samā€™s Club
  • 2nd place: Bi-County Solid Waste and Sewage
  • 3rd place: Distinguished Steppers

Automobiles and Motorcycles:

  • 1st place: Music City Miata Club
  • 2nd place: Pink Man with Dog (No Club Car Group)
  • 3rd place: Silver Mustang with Flames (Wild Horses)

Photo Gallery

Bill Larson
Bill Larson
Bill Larson isĀ  is politically and socially active in the community. Bill is a member of the Friends of Dunbar Cave. You can reach him via telephone at 931-249-0043 or via the email address below.
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