"Duty, Honor, Country"...
"Duty, Honor, Country"... General Douglas MacArthur bestowed these sage words to the West Point graduating class of '62 as a description of what a good officer is to embody, what he is to be. Today is Veterans Day, and America has many many good officers and soldiers fighting a war far from here.
To honor all who have sacrificed for the sake of freedom, Sevier County is hosting the Third Annual Veteran's Day Celebration in the Ripley's Aquarium Plaza in Gatlinburg. The ceremony will be at 11 a.m., November 11- the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month- to commemorate local war veterans. Carl Mays will lead as Master of Ceremonies, which will feature a Warbird Flyover, courtesy of the Tennessee Museum of Aviation, a Presentation of the Colors by the Gatlinburg Police Department, and an Eagle Presentation by the American Eagle Foundation Boy Scout Troop 111. Performances by Walters State Community College, the Gatlinburg Pittman High School Band, Will Bethel on bagpipes, the Knoxville Pipes & Drums, and the Boyd's Creek Choir will follow. For more information, call 865-436-4178.
In Sevierville, a program will be held to honor war veterans at the Sevier County Courthouse on the 11th at 11 a.m. Services will highlight the history behind Armistice Day, later becoming Veteran's Day following World War II.
What is more, on November 11, veterans can have breakfast at McDonald's on Forks of the River Parkway for free from 8-10 a.m. and free dinner at Golden Corral's Sevierville and
Pigeon Forge locations from 5-9 p.m. on November 14.