Each Memorial Day Monday, the East Tennessee Veterans Memorial Association honors and remembers all those who made the ultimate sacrifice at the the annual ” Reading of the Names”.
Beginning at sunrise, more than one hundred volunteers, including Gold Star family members, veterans, active duty, guard and reserve service members, local community leaders, students and friends and family come together to read each of the 6300 + names aloud. Families are encouraged to attend and read together.
There is no registration needed to participate in this event – simply arrive at the Memorial in World’s Fair Park and sign in. Those wishing to read specific names or counties/conflicts, however, should contact ETVMA prior to the event.
At the conclusion of the Reading each year, there is a dedication ceremony to recognize any of the names that have been added to the memorial during the previous year. This event is then followed by the annual Memorial Day service organized by the American Legion Post 2.
This is a rain or shine event.
The South Doyle High School JROTC traditionally visits the Memorial on Veterans Day before marching in the annual Knoxville Veterans Day Parade. Pictured below are JROTC Cadets Trent Ivey and Jonathan Fitzgibbon, who are the brother and cousin of PFC Patrick Fitzgibbon who was killed in Afghanistan in 2009.