Gatlinburg Designated As Regional Site For Veterans Day Observance
Every year since 2000, Gatlinburg, Tennessee hosts a very special event on November 11 to honor our nation’s veterans in a fitting and appropriate manner. The title “Gatlinburg Veterans Day Celebration” is an accurate description of the event in that the service and sacrifices made by our veterans are celebrated with the intent to thank those who gave so much to keep our nation free.

 
An official Regional Site for the Observance of Veterans Day as designated by Veterans Day National Committee, the 2009 Gatlinburg Veterans Day Celebration will feature several meaningful elements having broad appeal – giving those in attendance who are not veterans, particularly the children and youths present, a better insight as to why we should honor our veterans.
 The festivities at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies Plaza will start with a KC-135 Stratotanker flyover at 11 a.m., during which master of ceremonies Carl Mays will explain the global role of the Tennessee Air National Guard Air Refueling Wing based in nearby Knoxville. Keynote speaker will be General Carl Stiner.
During his very distinguished career, which lasted from 1958 until 1993, General Stiner’s commands included 82nd Airborne Division, XVIII Airborne Corps, the Joint Special Operations Command, and as Commander in Chief of United States Special Operations Command.
The free-admission event is held on the plaza at one of Gatlinburg’s most popular attractions, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. The space features flag poles large enough to display a giant 20’ x 30’ American Flag, along with seating space for hundreds of attendees.
Those attendees come from across the nation; Gatlinburg is a small city of only 3,500 permanent residents but attracts more than 9 million people annually with its many attractions and its proximity to Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Other community involvement includes Gatlinburg Police Department Captain Jim Maples, a Vietnam veteran who will present the MIA/POW Table; and the American Eagle Foundation display of “Mr. Lincoln,” an American Bald Eagle in their care. In addition to the Gatlinburg-Pittman High School Band, music will include the cast of Grand Majestic Theater and singer/violinist Abbey Sinders.
Giving many of those children present a role in the event is a priority in order to help instill the patriotic values held by the adults who attend. Programs will be distributed by groups of Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts who typically stay for the entire event. High school age youths will participate with music presented by the Gatlinburg-Pittman High School Band. An honor detail of University of Tennessee Army ROTC Rangers will serve as ushers for the event.