City of Brentwood hosts inaugural Memorial Day event

The City of Brentwood held its inaugural Memorial Day event during its May 13 City Commission meeting ahead of the national holiday on May 27.

Retired Tennessee Army National Guard Maj. Gen. Tommy Baker, who currently serves as the State Veterans Services commissioner, served as the event’s keynote speaker.

Among the other speakers and performers were Honor our Veterans co-founder Tom Freeman, a U.S. Air Force/National Guard veteran; U.S. Army National Guard veteran Ron Hutson, who gave the invocation; Rich Krejsa, president of the Franklin chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America, who led the attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance; and Karen Morvai, who gave the benediction. 

“This time of national reflection, this gentle pause to consider why we're here can never become just another long weekend or an additional trip to the lake,” Baker said.

“Most of the heroes memorialized did not come from wealth, they were not in search of fame; they simply answered the nation's call.”

The Ravenwood High School ROTC Color Guard and Brentwood High School Jazz Choir took part in the event, along with BHS student Todd Glenn, who performed “Taps" with acknowledgements to the Brentwood Franklin Woman’s Service Club and Tennessee National Guard Armed Services Medley.

“We view this as the beginning step for increasing purposeful recognition for our military community here in Brentwood,” Commissioner Allison Spears said.