Downtown Franklin was bedecked with red, white and blue as hundreds of Franklin residents turned out for the annual Veterans Day festivities on Main Street on Monday morning.
The program kicked off with the Veterans Day parade, in which dozens of veterans marched or rode along Main Street in order of the conflicts during which they served. The sidewalks were packed from town hall to the courthouse with children out of school and adults who took time off work to wish the veterans well. Music was provided by the Franklin High School marching band, and the Boy Scouts carried the banners.
At the gazebo, mayor Bob Scott led the Veterans Day ceremony. Scott, a veteran himself, was proud to see that the turnout for the event was one of the best in recent memory in spite of the cold weather. He expected as much from a town as patriotic as Franklin.
“We have a great turnout here today,” Scott said. “This is Franklin, after all.”
Vietnam veteran Grace Johnson led the opening invocation and Daughters of the American Revolution chapter regent Mardy Ashe gave the opening remarks.
Ashe discussed the nature of freedom as a concept and how it can only be maintained through the vigilance of those who love it most.
“We know that [freedom] does not come freely,” Ashe said. “Let us never take our freedom or [veterans’] sacrifices for granted.”
Vice mayor Barbara McRae led the pledge of allegiance and also spoke briefly about the veterans in her family, including her husband and grandfather. She spoke the most about her father, who died at the age of 101 two years ago, and how much it meant to her to know that he kept a photo of her during his time in a POW camp during World War II.
“Maybe the greatest thing I ever did in my life was inspire my father and my grandfather to keep on fighting,” McRae said.
The keynote speaker at the event was Vietnam veteran Steve Reeves. Reeves recounted what it was like when the draft took effect, grappling with the humanity of enemy soldiers and kissing the ground when he arrived back home. He also discussed how he fears a decline in patriotism among modern Americans. With 1.3 million active service members, Reeves feels that the military deserves public support now as much as it ever has and that the work veterans have done in our country’s 243-year history merits everyone’s respect.
“I’m thankful for the time that the Lord has given me to serve my country,” Reeves said. “No country has ever accomplished what America has in such a short period of time.”
Reeves was also grateful to say that there was no lack of patriotism among the people of Franklin who attended the ceremony. He reminded the attendees that even being able to attend a parade to celebrate the principles of the American military was made possible by the sacrifice of veterans.
“No one could stop us from assembling here today,” Reeves said. “We came here today because we can.”