Wing commander gives keynote address at honored Veterans Day ceremony

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Anthony Agosti
  • 118th Wing
Nashville, Tennessee --  The 118th Wing received special presenting honors at a major event paying tribute to veterans on Nov. 9, 2018 at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage in Hermitage, Tennessee.

The event, part of the national Field of Honor ® display for Veterans Day weekend, featured a keynote address from Col. Keith Allbritten, the 118th Wing commander, at the event’s opening ceremony.

“The Field of Honor is hard to describe but easy to be felt when you see it in person,” said Desha Hearn, president of the Exchange Club of Donelson-Hermitage, one of the groups organizing the event. “The 1000 3 foot by 5 foot American flags are placed in honor or memory of American veterans who have sacrificed, or are sacrificing, for our country.”

“The flag means liberty and freedom to anybody that sees it,” said Allbritten. “We believe in certain freedoms that we’re not afraid to fight for. As veterans, we stand behind that flag.”

Allbritten also addressed the Air Force core value of service before self displayed by veterans both past and present.

“When war begins we have to be really good at it. And there’s a lot of sacrifice that goes along with that,” said Allbritten. “We need to remember the sacrifices of our veterans, both the ones who are currently serving, and the ones who have served.”

The event location also has unique significance based on its history.

“The Hermitage is honored to have hosted this amazing display of American flags for the third year,” said Howard J. Kittell, president and CEO of the Andrew Jackson Foundation. “As the only presidential site to host a Field of Honor, we feel extremely proud that our grounds can serve as the site of such a spectacular tribute to the brave men and women who serve, and have served, in our nation’s military.”

“When I approached Howard about us being there he actually explained to us that that would be perfect, because it’s actually called the victory field,” said Hearn. “After World War II back in the day, people got to plant their victory gardens there.”

For more information on the event, please visit www.healingfield.org/hermitage18/.

Wing commander gives keynote address at honored Veterans Day ceremony

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Anthony Agosti
  • 118th Wing
Nashville, Tennessee --  The 118th Wing received special presenting honors at a major event paying tribute to veterans on Nov. 9, 2018 at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage in Hermitage, Tennessee.

The event, part of the national Field of Honor ® display for Veterans Day weekend, featured a keynote address from Col. Keith Allbritten, the 118th Wing commander, at the event’s opening ceremony.

“The Field of Honor is hard to describe but easy to be felt when you see it in person,” said Desha Hearn, president of the Exchange Club of Donelson-Hermitage, one of the groups organizing the event. “The 1000 3 foot by 5 foot American flags are placed in honor or memory of American veterans who have sacrificed, or are sacrificing, for our country.”

“The flag means liberty and freedom to anybody that sees it,” said Allbritten. “We believe in certain freedoms that we’re not afraid to fight for. As veterans, we stand behind that flag.”

Allbritten also addressed the Air Force core value of service before self displayed by veterans both past and present.

“When war begins we have to be really good at it. And there’s a lot of sacrifice that goes along with that,” said Allbritten. “We need to remember the sacrifices of our veterans, both the ones who are currently serving, and the ones who have served.”

The event location also has unique significance based on its history.

“The Hermitage is honored to have hosted this amazing display of American flags for the third year,” said Howard J. Kittell, president and CEO of the Andrew Jackson Foundation. “As the only presidential site to host a Field of Honor, we feel extremely proud that our grounds can serve as the site of such a spectacular tribute to the brave men and women who serve, and have served, in our nation’s military.”

“When I approached Howard about us being there he actually explained to us that that would be perfect, because it’s actually called the victory field,” said Hearn. “After World War II back in the day, people got to plant their victory gardens there.”

For more information on the event, please visit www.healingfield.org/hermitage18/.