Exchange Club, Tennessee State Veterans’ Home celebrate Veterans Day

The SonShiners choir lead attendees in the National Anthem as part of Veterans Day festivities.

by Kylie Forbes

The Humboldt Exchange Club held their annual Veterans’ Day event, and it looked a bit different this year. Due to scheduling conflicts with their typical venue, the Exchange Club had to look for somewhere new to host their program, which has run annually for nearly a quarter of a century. Soon, it seemed the perfect place had fallen into their laps: the Tennessee State Veterans’ Home.

Organizer and President of the Exchange Club Elna Blankenship always holds the event close to her heart, but this year was special for her. After her husband, who served in Vietnam, was recently admitted to the Veterans’ Home, hosting the program there carried a lot of weight for her. She said that the Exchange Club will continue to host the program there in years to come after such a heartwarming reception.

The program began with a prayer from Pastor Glen Miller, followed by the Presentation of Colors led by retired Sgt. Steven Pond. Veterans’ Home resident Guy Duke led the Pledge of Allegiance, assisted by George Yarbro. Jessie Yarbrough performed the National Anthem.

The SonShiners choir provided the entertainment for the program, performing a series of patriotic songs for the dozens of veterans packed into the Veterans’ Home “Gathering Place.” Army Master Sergeant Andrew Pruitte led the closing prayer, which was followed by a moment of silence. To close the program, trumpeter Deputy Tom Grant of the Madison County Sheriff’s Department performed “Taps.”

Blankenship was overcome with joy about how well the program went this year, her passion evident. “I am so glad that it went off as well as it did,” she said, “and that others, along with me, had tears in their eyes when Tom played ‘Taps.’”