To Remember, Honor, Educate, and Inspire…
The East Tennessee Veterans Memorial is a public plaza with a formal arrangement of granite pillars bearing the names of 6316 fallen heroes from 35 East Tennessee counties who died in military service during named conflicts since World War I. It was dedicated and officially unveiled November 15, 2008.
The names of the 14 Medal of Honor recipients from East Tennessee are inscribed and honored on the reverse side of the pillars. Quotations related to the wars and national service offer an occasion for reflection and meditation. A bell tower tolls for those lost, and for the four essential freedoms we honor and defend.
Major support for the Memorial has come from Knox County, the City of Knoxville, the State of Tennessee, the Federal Government, and hundreds of individuals, businesses, and groups.
2023 Reading of the Names Ceremony
Beginning at sunrise on Memorial Day, volunteer readers comprised of veterans, students, community leaders, Gold Star families and activity duty service members will join together to read aloud each of the 6300+ names engraved on the granite columns of the East Tennessee Veterans Memorial on Monday, May 29th.
More than one hundred readers are needed. Names are read chronologically, by conflict and county. Children are welcome and families are encouraged to read together. You do not need to register advance – simply sign up at the monitor’s tent when you arrive at the park. At the conclusion of the “Reading of the Names”, the ten newly engraved names which have been added to the Memorial in 2023 will be dedicated.
This will be followed by the annual Memorial Day Service organized by the American Legion Post 2.
