CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce held their 24th Annual Veterans Day Breakfast Saturday at the Austin Peay Morgan University Center. Close to 200 people enjoyed the opportunity to show their support for our veterans.
Guest speaker for the breakfast was Sergeant Major of the Army, Kenneth O. Preston, U.S. Army Retired who now serves as Director for NCO & Soldier Programs for the Association of the Unites States Army, (AUSA).
Ron Smithfield, is with the Kiwanis Club of Clarksville, and is chairman of the Memories of Service and Sacrifice. This year’s topic for the Interview a Veteran Essay Contest was “how a veterans service and sacrifice helps me better understand freedom”.
Smithfield introduced the Grand Winners and they each read a portion of their essay.
Smithfield said there were 500 local students who interviewed veterans or active duty military and wrote essays. The Grand Winners were Michele Lamborn, a 7th grader from Northeast Middle School and Elijah Urquhart, a junior at Clarksville High School.