CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – It was a full house with close to 500 people, mostly veterans, attending the seventh annual Clarksville Heroes Breakfast at the Wilma Rudolph Event center on Thursday.

The event, sponsored in part by the Maynard family, was a fundraiser for the nonprofit organization that connects veterans and their families with services that focus on transition, employment, housing, benefits, engagement, volunteerism and connection to the community.

Guests attending the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests attending the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, pose with Noah Galloway (center) on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests attending the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests attending the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests attending the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests attending the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests attending the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, speak with Noah Galloway (center) on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests attending the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests attending the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests attending the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests attending the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Singer-Songwriter Kyle Mercer performs at the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests attending the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests attending the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests attending the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests attending the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests attending the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests attending the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests attending the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests attending the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests attending the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests attending the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Eric Lehman, Kimberly Lehman and Joe Maynard at the 7th Annual Operation Stand Down Tennessee Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Operation Stand Down members at the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Operation stand Down members and guests attending the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests attending the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests attending the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
The Austin Peay State University Color Guard ROTC post the colors at the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests attending the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests attending the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests attending the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
The Austin Peay State University Color Guard ROTC post the colors at the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Eden Murrie, Chief Executive Officer for Operation Stand Down Tennessee speaks at the 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests attending the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Emcees Jenn McMillion & Danielle Stack, at the 7th Annual Operation Stand Down Tennessee Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett speaks at the 7th Annual Operation Stand Down Tennessee Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts speaks at the 7th Annual Operation Stand Down Tennessee Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Joe Maynard speaks at the 7th Annual Operation Stand Down Tennessee Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Lyle Whitted speaks at the 7th Annual Operation Stand Down Tennessee Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Keynote Speaker, Noah Galloway, speaks at the 7th Annual Operation Stand Down Tennessee Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests attending the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Guests pose with Noah Galloway at the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)
Members of Women Veterans of America Chapter 47 who attended the Operation Stand Down Tennessee 7th Annual Heroes Breakfast, on Feb. 10, 2022. (Lee Erwin)

The keynote speaker was Noah Galloway, who served in the Army with the 502nd Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. Galloway was deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom and lost his left arm above the elbow and left leg above the knee after an IED attack.

Along with being a Purple Heart recipient, Galloway is now a fitness enthusiast and motivational speaker who shares his story to encourage audiences to embrace a “no excuses” lifestyle for mental and physical wellness.

Among his accolades, Galloway was the first veteran and amputee to be featured on the cover of Men’s Health magazine, was a finalist on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” and won the debut season of Fox’s “American Grit.”

Eden Murrie, chief executive officer of Operation Stand Down Tennessee praised the support from Clarksville-Montgomery County for the success of the breakfast.

“It was such a great morning. The event was sold out, which was just incredible, and I just can’t say enough about this great community’s support for veterans,” Murrie said.

You’ll find the office of Operation Stand Down Tennessee at 115 N. Third St. For more information visit osdtn.org or call 931-896-2184.