Let Us All Celebrate A Volunteer Spirit

By Lisa Cope, General Manager/CEO — Ben Lomand Connect

Tennessee has been known throughout the generations for its volunteer spirit. When numerous residents responded to the call to serve during the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War of 1848, the patriotism displayed by the citizens of Tennessee earned us the lasting title of “The Volunteer State.”

Veterans Day — and every day — is the perfect time for us to respect, honor and celebrate our friends and neighbors who have served and defended our great country. Veterans Day celebrations are prevalent in our service territory. They are hosted by school students, thankful citizens, community groups and many others who relish the opportunity to appreciate the dedicated men and women who have protected our freedoms.

In the following pages, you will read about another group of volunteers who willingly sacrifice for the betterment of their communities. In the rural areas that we call home, volunteer fire departments are the norm rather than the exception. Selfless volunteers spend numerous hours in training, fundraising and responding to emergencies on our behalf. Many of these firefighters are willingto conduct classes to further educate residents. These gracious and courageous volunteers routinely make a difference in someone’s life.

However, there are as many opportunities to volunteer in our hometowns as there are neighbors in our communities. Local churches and civic organizations could use your talents! Other possibilities include the county fair association, volunteer income tax assistance, neighborhood schools, local historical societies, parks and natural areas. Well, you get the picture. The list is endless, and the rewards are too numerous to count.

This is also a time of year for many of us to reflect and to be thankful. I am thankful for our communities and the genuine, hardworking citizens who are the backbone of our hometowns. The scenic beauty of the mountains, valleys, springs and rivers of our area is unparalleled. As we pause to consider thankworthy items, our freedoms should always make the list.

I am truly thankful for the team we have at Ben Lomand Connect and the work they do daily to ensure we serve you to the best of our ability. We are truly thankful for YOU, the customers and members who give us this opportunity. Have a blessed Thanksgiving and a merry Christmas from the entire Ben Lomand Connect Family. �

Local Veterans Day Celebrations and Programming

Grundy and Marion counties: GCTV special Veterans Day programming (BLTV Channel 6 in Grundy and Marion counties)

McMinnville: The Park Theater, Nov. 12, 5:30 p.m.

Sparta: White County High School, Veterans Day parade and program to follow, Nov. 10, 10 a.m.

Spencer: Van Buren County High School Gymnasium, Nov. 12, 9 a.m.