(MURFREESBORO) Sunshine and temps in the mid 50s; that's what greeted this comunity's tribute to veterans that was held at 11:00 o'clock Friday morning (11/10/2023) on the east side of the Rutherford County Courthouse.
After playing it on the radio for the past 27 years, this time WGNS did "live" TV coverage of the tribute and presented it on YouTube as well as having it on the station's website.
Chaplain Ernest B. Newsom, retired Army, was the guest speaker. He served as a Dental assistant, Medic and social psychiatric assistant, and was later commissioned Navy LT., serving for 19 yrs. as Navy Chaplain. Newsom is the 7th African-American in the Unted States to obtain the rank of NAVY CAPTAIN (06=full colonel) and first in state of Tennessee.
In addition, this 2023 Veterans Day Tribute honored its local founding-coordinator Elsie Stem. The late Mrs. Elsie Stem started the event in 1996 and continued until 2011. That's 15-years of dedication.
After Mrs. Stem, Myra Simons kept the dream alive for the next 7-years. Her reign was 2012-2019.
And now Barbara Smith Pitto continues that tradition taking the reigns in 2020.
WGNS has been proud to broadcast and promote Murfreesboro's Veterans Day tribute for all of those 27-years.
CLICK BELOW to watch a video of the entire Veterans Day Tribute
