Park Theater will be the site for a local celebration saluting veterans on Veterans Day Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. The Veterans Day Celebration will feature a keynote speech from local veteran, Phil Mitchell, MSG, USMC (retired).
Mitchell joined the Marine Corps in Oct., 1975 in Nashville. He went on to serve in Georgia, Virginia, California, North Carolina and the District of Columbia, where he retired in 1997. As a retired Marine and retired City of McMinnville firefighter, Mitchell has a deep commitment to serving his community and his country and honoring those who have done the same.
“The question is, ‘What is a veteran?’ A veteran, whether active duty, discharged, retired or reserve, is someone who, at one point in life, wrote a blank check made payable to the United States of America for the amount up to, and including, his own life," Mitchell said. “Unfortunately, we are losing our veterans – our WWII, Korean War, Vietnam and even our youngest veterans from the Global War on Terrorism – and that’s why we need to keep them in our prayers and also keep sharing their stories to keep their memory and their service alive.”
The celebration will include proclamations from both the City of McMinnville and Warren County governments, performances from the Silver & Gold Band and the WCHS Choir, a presentation of Quilts of Valor by Cheryl Hitchcock, a service pin presentation by Gentiva Hospice and more – all being overseen by event emcee Bryan Kell.
"Being the grandson of a living WWII veteran and getting to play a small part in paying tribute to local men and women who have served our country means the world to me. Speaking on behalf of the Park Theater Advisory Committee and Park Theater management, we all consider it a huge honor for the community to be able to celebrate Veterans Day together in this historic theater in beautiful downtown McMinnville," Kell said.
Warren County Historian Jimmy Haley sees the event as a way to pay tribute to local heroes. "Warren County is rich in military history," Haley said. "When the call to duty was made, our men and women joined forces to protect American freedom. As a country, state or community, we can never show enough appreciation as we honor those who served our nation in time of need. This Veterans Day Celebration gives us all the opportunity to honor our local heroes. There will be a special recognition given to Ivory O. Hillis for both his military service and his many years in the Tennessee General Assembly, where he served as chair of the House Veteran's Affairs Committee."
The Veterans Day Celebration is free and open to all. Seating is first come, first served. Light refreshments will be provided and local volunteers and the WCHS JROTC will attend and serve as ushers for the event. Doors open at 10 a.m. and the event begins at 10:30 a.m.
