TressaBushandSCHTS MakingHistoryMoreThan JustaStory
In the early 1940s, farmers in Middle Tennessee woke up to the rumble of tanks rolling through their fields, and shopkeepers found their small-town streets filled with thousands of U S soldiers preparing for war.
SASHAGROVE CONTRIBUTOR
Theseweren'tinvaders-theywereyoungmen trainingforbattleinoneofthelargestmilitary exercisesinUShistory:theTennessee Maneuvers
In2025,historycomesaliveagainastheSmith CountyHistoricalTourismSociety(SCHTS) presentstheTennesseeManeuvers RememberedonMay3,2025LedbySCHTS founderTressaBush,thislivinghistoryeventwill transportvisitorsbackto1941-1944,whenover 850,000troopsusedTennesseeastheirtraining ground
Visitorscanstepintothepastwithlivemilitary demonstrationsexperttalksandinteractive exhibits,experiencingfirsthandhowsoldiers preparedforWorldWarIIandhowlocal communitiesplayedaroleintheirjourney
"We'renotjustrememberinghistory we're bringingittolifesofuturegenerationscan experienceitfirsthand,"saysTressaBush
TressaBush,anaward-winningjournalistand storytellernowdedicatedtopreserving Tennessee'shistory,isorganizingthisevent BeforefoundingSCHTS,sheworkedasa reporterforTennesseeCrossroadsanda producerforWilsonCountyTelevision(WCTV), usingherskillstosharestoriesaboutthepeople andplacesofTennessee
Atwo-timeTennesseeStatePressAwardwinner Bushhasspentyearsmakinghistoryengaging andaccessibleShehashelpeddeveloptourism plannedevents,andcreatedmediacontentthat keepsTennessee'spastalive
TressaBushloveshistoryandwantsothersto experienceit,notjustreadaboutitThat'swhy shestartedSCHTS,creatingeventsthatbring thepasttolifeWiththeTennesseeManeuvers Commemoration,shehelpspeoplestepinto history seeing,hearing,andevenfeelingwhat lifewaslikeduringWorldWarIItrainingin Tennessee
MarkyourcalendarsforMay3,2025,andstep backintimewithTressaBushandSCHTSfora dayofhistory,storytelling,andhands-on experiences
"We're not just remembering history we're bringing it to life so future generations can experience it firsthand "
Tressa Bush, Founder SCHTS