(c)2009 NPT PHOTO BY KATHY HEMSWORTH

Resthaven Memorial Gardens held its annual Veterans Day program on Sunday afternoon.
The guest speaker was Dr. Amie Lonas, principal at Maury Middle School and major in the
U.S. Army National Guard, who served a tour of duty in Iraq. Lonas, at right, is shown
shaking hands with a World War II veteran after the program.

DANDRIDGE-Resthaven Memorial Gardens held its 18th annual Veterans Day Celebration on Sunday afternoon in the Veterans "Garden of Valor."

This year's program included participation from the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Military Order of the Purple Heart, AmVets, Marine Corp League 1206, American Legion, Tennessee State Guard, Cocke County High School Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC), and Jefferson County High School Army JROTC. Every branch of the military was represented.

Guest speaker was Dr. Amie Lonas, a retired major in the Tennessee Air National Guard, who returned from Iraq this spring where she developed the first of its kind Advisor School, Women's Conference for Iraqi Professional Women, and English Language Training Academy in Baghdad. Her military honors include the Bronze Star Medal as well as 14 other awards and decorations. She is the principal of Maury Middle School.

An emotional Lonas told of her experiences of being called for active duty and thanked all veterans in attendance for their service to their country.

The Reverend Mike Hensley, pastor Swannsylvania Baptist Church, gave the invocation. The Reverend Tom Mooty, pastor of West End Baptist Church, gave the benediction.

Special music was provided by vocalists Jessie Kuhns Rice and Brooke Sourbeer. Stan Barbee played  the bagpipes.

Steve Davidson played "Taps" on the trumpet after the 2nd MP Battalion, 3rd Regiment of the Tennessee State Guard presented a 21-gun salute.

Tina Kilgore served as emcee for this year's event.