West Tennessee communities honor veterans with Veterans Day events

JACKSON, Tenn. (WBBJ) - Communities across West Tennessee honored the brave men and women Wednesday, who have given their lives to help keep us free. WBBJ was able to be a part of a few of these special events.

Milan High School

Milan High School held a Veterans Day program at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the school located on East Van Hook Street. Veterans and members of the community were invited to attend.

“To have the ability to pause and to appreciate everything that they probably take for granted - all of those freedoms come from those that served before them,” said Staff Sergeant Courtney Churchwell, recruiting and retention officer.

Organizers of the event said it is one way to make sure the younger generation understands the true meaning of Veterans Day.

Rotary Club of Jackson

First United Methodist Church in Downtown Jackson held a special Veterans Day program. The service featured Lieutenant General John “Glad” Castellaw, retired United States Marine Corps, as the guest speaker.

Castellaw is a native of Crockett County and served in the Marines for 36 years. He spoke about his leadership roles in Sarajevo, East Timor and as chief of staff for U.S. Central Command in Iraq.

“We would like them to understand that America values our veterans, that they play a very important role in the community, in our state, and in our nation,” said Castellaw.

Veteran Mural Dedication

A special Veterans Day Ceremony was held at BEO of Jackson Wednesday. The program featured remarks from the facility director and the executive director.

Students from JCS helped create a special mural, in honor of the brave men and women who have fought for our country, bringing together young people and the community to say “thank you.”

Bridges of Honor

Local groups spent Veterans Day on local overpasses honoring those who served.

The 6th annual Bridges of Honor event lined bridges above I-40, including Spain Road, Upper Browns Church Road, Matheny Road and Hartmus Road, with supporters.

Participants waved American flags and banners as drivers passed below, creating a moving tribute visible from up and down the interstate.

“It’s something we do every year, and you can see from the response, it seems to be worth doing. we still have the banners we were given six years ago, and they are still relative today,” said Larry Newsome, president of S.A.R - James Madison Chapter.

Organizers said the Bridges of Honor event is about making sure veterans see, in a very public way, that their service and sacrifice are never forgotten.

Alamo Veterans Parade

Alamo City School hosted a drive-thru Veterans Day parade Wednesday to honor local heroes.

The event had vehicles lining up in front of the Alamo Fire Department on East Park Street. Veterans drove through the school drive as Pre-K through sixth graders lined the route to say “thank you.” The ACS Choir also greeted veteran’s with patriotic songs.

Organizers said the parade was a simple, but meaningful way for students and staff to show their appreciation for those who have served.

Bolivar Elementary School

Bolivar Elementary School celebrated Veterans Day with a special program. The younger grade levels sang songs while the older grade levels wrote letters about how important veterans are to our country. Thank you letters to veterans were also written.