Veterans Bridge gets new flags in installation ceremony

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – The City of Chattanooga today honored our country’s service men and women with the installation of new American flags on Veterans Bridge.

The flags will fly alongside the five permanent flags that are in memory of Chattanooga’s Fallen Five.

The City of Chattanooga launched the Veterans Bridge Flag Initiative back in May of 2014 to ensure that those who bravely served our country would continue to be honored in our community.

A large group gathered in the Bluff View Arts District this morning to change the flags flying on Veterans Bridge.

Mayor Andy Berke said “at least for me, and I’m sure for other Chattanoogans, understanding that Veteran’s Bridge is talking about specific people, makes it a special experience.”

The mayor was joined by city council members, the police department and citizens who have donated flags in honor of veterans.

CONNIE KING, HONORING HUSBAND & FATHER IN LAW

“I’m honoring my husband Byrl, who’s a junior King, and the senior King is my father in law.”

BYRL KING, U.S. NAVY, VIETNAM VETERAN

“It makes me proud of all of our veterans, guys who’ve served and given their life..and its remembrance to them, and this town seems to be really good for their veterans.”

JIM KIMBALL, U.S. ARMY, VIETNAM VETERAN

“It’s very nice for them to do this..my daughters were the ones that made the donation, so, it can be done and I appreciate what they did.”

Any group or person who wants to honor a service man or woman can do that by donating the cost of a flag, which is $75.

Honorees receive a proclamation recognizing their service to their country.

To get your loved one put on the list for a flag on veteran’s bridge, call 3-1-1, they’re already sold out through next November.

Those flags are up for six months and switched twice a year around Veterans Day and Armed Forces Day.

On Veterans Day 2015, five permanent flags were raised in memory of the five fallen servicemen killed on July 16, 2015.

They’re on the west side of the bridge.

Categories: Chattanooga, Local News

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *