Veterans celebrated in downtown Clarksville with ceremony, parade

The community gathered in Downtown Clarksville to honor veterans, starting the day with the annual Veterans Day ceremony, followed by the parade.

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The community gathered downtown Saturday to honor veterans, starting the day with the annual Veterans Day ceremony, followed by the parade. The parade had over 70 entrants this year, including dozens of vehicles, trailers, and floats.

Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden gave thanks to the local veterans and families. “One of the best things that we can do is to teach our children what it means to honor our veterans and to honor this country,” Golden said.

Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden at the Montgomery County Veterans Day Ceremony in Downtown Clarksville on November 9, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)

Montgomery County Veterans Day Ceremony in Downtown Clarksville on November 9, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)

Hector Santos at the Montgomery County Veterans Day Ceremony in Downtown Clarksville on November 9, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)

Wes Golden and Andrew Kester at the Montgomery County Veterans Day Ceremony in Downtown Clarksville on November 9, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)

Jeremiah Walker at the Montgomery County Veterans Day Ceremony in Downtown Clarksville on November 9, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)

Wes Golden and Andrew Kester at the Montgomery County Veterans Day Ceremony in Downtown Clarksville on November 9, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)

Jeremiah Walker at the Montgomery County Veterans Day Ceremony in Downtown Clarksville on November 9, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)

Wes Golden and Andrew Kester at the Montgomery County Veterans Day Ceremony in Downtown Clarksville on November 9, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)

Montgomery County Veterans Day Ceremony in Downtown Clarksville on November 9, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)

Clarksville High School Choir at the Montgomery County Veterans Day Ceremony in Downtown Clarksville on November 9, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)

Andrew Kester at the Montgomery County Veterans Day Ceremony in Downtown Clarksville on November 9, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)

Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden at the Montgomery County Veterans Day Ceremony in Downtown Clarksville on November 9, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)

Clarksville High School Choir at the Montgomery County Veterans Day Ceremony in Downtown Clarksville on November 9, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)

Montgomery County Veterans Day Ceremony in Downtown Clarksville on November 9, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)

Andrew Kester at the Montgomery County Veterans Day Ceremony in Downtown Clarksville on November 9, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)

Montgomery County Veterans Day Ceremony in Downtown Clarksville on November 9, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)

Lee Erwin at the Montgomery County Veterans Day Ceremony in Downtown Clarksville on November 9, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)

Andrew Kester, retired U.S. Army first sergeant and Montgomery County’s director of Continuous Improvement, spoke about the history of the Veterans Service Organization. “We’re here today to recognize 80 years of service,” Kester stated, explaining that the VSO began in 1944 as the Ex-Servicemen’s Bureau to support veterans and their families after World War II. Today, it is the largest VSO in Tennessee, serving over 34,000 veterans.

Kester encouraged veterans to share their stories with family and friends. “Every veteran has a story,” he said, remembering how he only found out about his grandfather’s military service after he had passed. He told veterans to “share those stories with friends and family so those stories can continue on.”

As the ceremony ended, Golden spoke about the community honoring veterans. “Montgomery County knows how to honor our veterans better than anybody else,” he said. The ceremony ended with a wreath-laying to honor veterans, music sung by the Clarksville High School Choir, followed by the parade.

Veterans Day Parade

Montgomery County Veterans Day Parade in Downtown Clarksville on November 9, 2024. (Wesley Irvin)

Parade Winners:

JROTC Marching Units: 1st West Creek High School, 2nd Rossview High School, 3rd Montgomery Central High School.
JROTC Color & Honor Guards / Step Team: 1st West Creek High School, 2nd Kenwood High School, 3rd Montgomery Central High School.
Military / Veteran Entries: 1st VFW Post 11160, 2nd National Sojourners Fort Campbell Chapter 177, 3rd Veteran Equine Time.
Commercial / Business Entries: 1st Blue Jay Garage Doors, 2nd Mission BBQ, 3rd Early Technical College at TCAT.
Boy /Cub / Girl Scouts: 1st American Heritage Girls Troop TN-1412 and Trail Life USA Troop TN-0101, 2nd Fort Campbell Scouts – Pack 534, Troop 101, Troop 397, multiple Girl Scout Troops, 3rd Girl Scouts of Middle TN Service Unit 80.
Automobiles (Clubs OR single automobile entries): 1st Corvettes of Clarksville, 2nd Memory Lane Cruisers, 3rd Clarksville Chapter – All American Camaro & Firebird Assn.
Motorcycle Clubs: 1st Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association TN Chapter 18-2, 2nd Special Forces Brotherhood Motorcycle Club, 3rd Warioto Wings.
Community Entries (those entries NOT fitting any other category): 1st Montgomery County Antique Tractor & Engine Club, 2nd Clarksville Screaming Eagles Youth Football & Cheer, 3rd Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County TN

For more events like this, go to the Clarksville Now Events page.

Veterans celebrated in downtown Clarksville with ceremony, parade | PHOTOS

Veterans Day Parade