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Exchange Club dedicates Freedom Shrine at mall
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Seth Wright photo Exchange Club of McMinnville members and visiting dignitaries mingle in front of the newly dedicated Freedom Shrine at Three Star Mall. The display contains copies of several of the most important documents in United States history and serves as a reminder of the sacrifices and dedication it took to secure and to ensure our ongoing freedom.
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Seth Wright photo Exchange Club of McMinnville members and visiting dignitaries attended the dedication of a Freedom Shrine at Three Star Mall Tuesday night. Pictured are, from left, Tennessee Exchange Club District President Trey Cleek, Randy England, Warren County Chief of Staff Jason Hillis, Patricia Basham, Jerry Davenport, Neva England, Warren County Executive Terry Bell, Ken Roberts, Dr. Karla Addesso, Howard Henny, Charlie Fitch, Whitney Yates, Mary Jane Bell, Ashley Gillentine Wright, McMinnville-Warren County Chamber of Commerce President Melissa Mullins, McMinnville Exchange Club President Bill Brock, Lester Cowell, Jimmy Priestley and Thomas Smith.

In the interest of preserving history and celebrating the freedom we enjoy as Americans, the Exchange Club of McMinnville, in partnership with Warren County government, dedicated a new Freedom Shrine at Three Star Mall Tuesday night.

As part of its regularly scheduled bi-monthly meeting, the Exchange Club welcomed members as well as invited dignitaries, Tennessee District Exchange Club President Trey Cleek of Jackson, Warren County Executive Terry Bell and his wife Beckee Bell, Warren County Chief of Staff Jason Hillis, Warren County Senior Center Director Lana Hillis and McMinnville - Warren County Chamber of Commerce President Melissa Mullins.

Celebrating its 99th year of service, the Exchange Club of McMinnville felt it was important to carry on a tradition developed by the National Exchange Club which has its roots in the Freedom Train which toured the nation in 1947. The train carried an exhibit of historic documents in an effort to expose citizens to the papers which helped make America what it is. 

Joining thousands of Freedom Shrines across the United States, including several in Warren County, the latest Freedom Shrine has been placed in Three Star Mall in the hall near the former home of JCPenney and the future home of the Warren County Health Department. The historical American documents displayed, ranging from the Mayflower Compact of 1641 to Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, were carefully chosen to display the beginnings of our nation and turning points which shaped the national character. The display is topped by 10 flags, each depicting a different stage in the development of the United States. 

"Freedom, patriotism, respect for law - these are all things embodied by a Freedom Shrine," Cleek said. "The service and sacrifice of the men and women of our armed services, our law enforcement and first responders are what makes us the land of the free. That is what a Freedom Shrine celebrates."

Exchange Club Secretary Ken Roberts echoed many of Cleek's sentiments, and thanked the county for its cooperation in making the shrine possible.

"The Freedom Shrine represents a history of freedom in the United States," Roberts said. "It is important to us. The Exchange Club is a rather patriotic group and for us to be able to focus on some of the things that have brought freedom to this nation is really important. We're very appreciative the county let us put this Freedom Shrine here in this prominent place. We have shrines in most public schools and public buildings in Warren County, but I really believe this one is especially prominent because so many people will get an opportunity to see it."

Bell expressed his pleasure in being able to provide the space in the county-owned mall to house this display of documents.

"I'm really proud to be able to let organizations put something like this in your building," Bell said. "This is the taxpayers' building, so you own as much of it as anybody. And to me, that represents the freedom we have in this country. Our seniors who come to the Senior Center as well as mall customers and walkers will pass the Freedom Shrine and see the history that has brought us to where we are today. So we're really proud the Exchange Club was able to do that for us."