Veterans and community supporters have come together to host a ‘Welcome Home’ parade and job fair on June 14 to thank and benefit Tennessee’s Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans. With the announcement, Nashville officially joins St. Louis, Chicago, Houston, Austin and several other major cities in hosting a formal event to welcome home the troops.
The parade is open to veterans and civilians alike, and it will be the state’s first official event thanking Tennessee’s most recent veterans and formally welcoming them back home to civilian life. The parade will be followed by a ceremony on War Memorial Plaza that will feature keynote addresses from both U.S. Congressman Jim Cooper and Tennessee state Senator and WWII veteran Douglas Henry and a Flag Day proclamation from TDVA Commissioner Many-Bears Grinder.
Following the ceremony will be a veterans job fair hosted by Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), the event’s main sponsor. Participating organizations include HCA, Walgreens, IBEW Local #429, G4S, UPS and many others. The goal of the job fair is to ensure that as many veterans as possible get hired.
“No veteran who has fought for this country overseas should ever have to fight for a job after returning home,” said Daniel Horwitz. This event aims to honor Tennessee’s Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans for their extraordinary service to this nation, and to ensure that they get the jobs that they need and deserve.” Representatives from the Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs, the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and Operation Stand Down Nashville (the event’s VSO partner) will participate as well.
Those interested in participating in this event are encouraged to visit the event’s facebook page at Individuals or groups interested in marching in the parade should contact Brandi Majerus
