Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Clarksville's Blue Star Memorial Dedication in Clarksville

From In the Garden
As promised, Clarksville's Blue Star Memorial marker was installed at the Montgomery County Courthouse on Monday, November 7, 2009. The day could not have been better and there was a great showing of dignitaries, garden club members, veterans, and the general public.

Here are some faces in the crowd. All were enjoying the day and marveling over the dedication of the garden clubs in Clarksville in order to bring this much needed and overdue marker to Clarksville. Clarksville (along with Oak Grove and Hopkinsville Kentucky) is the home of Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Fort Campbell is the home of the elite 101st Air Assault Division. Fort Campbell was also my very first duty station in the Army so it holds a special place in my heart. Not only did I start my 20 year career here at Fort Campbell in 1985, but I finished my Army career here too. Fort Campbell is most special to us in the Ramsey household and due to the great weather, land, and cost of living we made the decision to retire here and put down roots way back in 2001. Mr. Fix-it and I have never regretted that decision and days like this help to reinforce the reason why we settled here-the great concentration of veterans and supporters.
From In the Garden

There are three distinct areas of Tennessee called 'Grand Divisions'. There is East Tennessee, Middle Tennessee, and West Tennessee. Clarksville is located in northern Middle Tennessee right on the border of Kentucky. The above picture is taken from downtown Clarksville looking toward the Red River. We are fortunate to have at least two major rivers run through our town. We are also lucky to be able to enjoy the many benefits of Kentucky and Tennessee all rolled into one. Recently Clarkville was voted the 4th best place in the country to start a business as ranked by CNN Money. Clarksville has also made the list of Best Places to Live several times over the past few years. If that weren't enough to sell you on Clarksville, Reuters reports Clarksville leads the way in the recovery of the recession and in fact, it is reputed the recession has barely touched us here in Clarksville. A big reason for that buffer (in my humble opinion) is the military. It is only fitting Clarksville come together to honor the military not only for their many contributions during this month of Veteran's Day, but also for their support of the city and surrounding communities.
As a veteran of 20 years and having been to three separate wars, a member of a family who has long served the military, a wife of a soldier who is slated to deploy and himself a veteran of two wars, a mother of two daughters (one a veteran and the other currently serving in Iraq), and finally, as a gardener, I am most honored to have been a part of the movement to bring a Blue Star Memorial Marker to the heart of Clarksville. It is a fitting tribute; a reminder to all who visit Clarksville, and it so intimately ties gardening with my former career that I couldn't be more overjoyed the Blue Star Memorial marker came to fruition after two years of work. Way to go everyone who worked on bringing it here, especially Annette and Helene who spearheaded the movement and brought in the other two garden clubs. Beachaven, Clarksville, and Les Candides Garden clubs rock! A special thanks to the mayors of both the city of Clarksville and Montgomery County for jumping on board and supporting the effort. The marker looks great downtown....

in the garden....

P.S. This should count as a post about where I hail from as requested by Janie at An Obsessive Compulsive Plant Collector. Though I do not live in Clarksville, it is the biggest thing around here and generally where I count as being from.

Update: According to our local newspaper Business Week has just named Clarksville as Tennessee's best place to raise kids. Another feather in the hat for Clarksville.

26 comments:

  1. It sounds like it was a successful installation...How wonderful that the garden clubs came together to honor the military. Thank you Tina and Mr Fix It for all you have done and given to our country...Has a deployment date been set? Hugs to you, gail It's good to see your smiling face!

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  2. Hi Tina, congrats and thanks for being such a big part of all these wonderful things for us. You are amazing and a great citizen --have a great day! Ciao!

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  3. Gail, Thanks! Garden clubs and the military-a nice fit indeed.

    Dawn, Thanks!

    Anonymous, Thanks! Have you seen it yet? It is so nice. You and hubby have to drive by to see it. A really nice fit for Clarksville.

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  4. Tina,
    That's a beautiful shot of the trees on the hillside! Absolutely gorgeous!

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  5. Wonderful post on Clarksville Tina, it is a lovely place. So did I read correctly your husband is slated to deploy again? !!?? Oh dear. The military is such a family business for many of us isn't it?
    The memorial is very nice tribute. Wonderful.

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  6. Congrats on the Blue Star! I saw a story about it on the news. I haven't been to Clarksville in a long time but I remember it as being a very nice town.

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  7. A job well done, another reason to hold your head high and be proud of being an American..I for one Salute You!!

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  8. Congratulations on the Blue Star! I can see what draws you to Clarksville. That's wonderful to be part of a community that recognizes both veterans and gardeners.

    I loved the butterfly photos in the post below. Nice to see after our morning frost in Maine, brrr.

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  9. I certainly agree that Tennessee is one of the best places to live. The cost of living is a fraction of what it is in other parts of the country.

    It nice to see this tribute to our military.
    Marnie

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  10. Tina,
    Congratulations to Clarksville and also to all veterans. It is a well-deserved honor! Very nice!
    Rosey

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  11. The 3 garden clubs really do rock!! Great job to all concerned. Our military families give so much to all of us that they cannot ever be honored enough.

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  12. Ah, my hometown Clarksville, Tennessee. I called a couple of blocks from downtown home for 20 years! I walked those streets may times with my grandmother while paying bills the old fashioned way as a child. The memories will never fade of those Glory Days. I long to be back in Clarksville to live one day. It is looking more like during our retirement years then now, sigh... I get up there whenever possible though....


    I am trying to figure out where you are standing while snapping the River pic and not sure. I did not know you could see the Red River from downtown as it is to the right of the city and this looks like the front of the city which would be the Cumberland River. Hum, has it been that long since I stood high and over looked the river? Make note to self, get to town top for river view on next visit back home...

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  13. Thank you Tina & Mr Fix it for your contribution to keeping this great America free.
    I'm so glad that the garden clubs have united with the military & this memorial was erected.
    Clarksville is & always has been a vital part of the military for that region.
    Tennessee is the greatest place to live.

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  14. Randy, Welcome back and thanks!

    Janet, It's a rough life indeed for us military folks. The stories I can tell.

    Dave, If you ever get up here again do be sure to call me!

    Darla, Thanks!

    Sarah, Thanks and glad you like the butterfly shots. It's is looking kind of cold here too so I need a refreshment every now and then as well.

    Marnie, That is a mighty good thing for us Tennesseans indeed. Everything is so expensive now a days.

    Rosey, Thank you!

    Mom, It was a neat thing for me to join gardening with military indeed. I'm so glad it came to fruition.

    Skeeter, I am at the top of the parking area by the courthouse. You can see the police station and the railroad trestle and the fields. I believe the railroad trestle goes over the river in this photo though you can't really see the river. It's a nice view from downtown when you can get high. We were pretty high.

    Lola, Thank you and I'm so glad you like the post!

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  15. Don't blow the Clarkesville horn too loudly, people may start moving there and mucking things up.

    A belated Veteran's Day thank you for your service.

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  16. It sure does sound like a great place to live. We are lucky to have people like you and your family serving our country. Thank you to all of you. I'm glad Clarksville got their marker, thanks for a very interesting post :)

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  17. Congrats on helping to get the marker up Tina. But most especially to you and your family for your long line of service to our country. It is so honorable.
    I can't believe I've never been to Tennessee ~ I've wanted to ~ I have a childhood friend who moved to Knoxville and I'd love to visit. Hopefully someday I will make it to your beautiful state.

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  18. Les, Very true-shhhh! And thanks!

    Catherine, It is a very nice marker. I am glad I could showcase it as it will stand forever. And thanks for your kind words.

    Kathleen, If you ever get here do be sure to give me a head's up and maybe we can get together. It is a lovely state and so much more than mountains and country music and Elvis.

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  19. What a wonderful way to honor the many veterans in your community! Kudos to the individuals and the garden clubs for their work in getting this accomplished. And a big thank-you to you, Tina, and to all the members of your family for your service to our country.

    By the way, we passed through Clarksville on our way home last month; a beautiful place!

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  20. I was in Clarksville a while ago as well, i had never been, i lived the street by the river and the view from there, i have a friend in Trenton Kentucky and thats the closest place to there for food and whatnot, and thank you for honoring our forces in this creative and wonderful way.

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  21. Rose, you mean you went through Clarksville and did not call Tina for a tour of Tiger Gardens? You so missed out on some Southern Hospitality...

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  22. I am most behind on this post indeed.

    Rose, Next time you give me an email ahead of time I'd love to meet you. On the day you went thru we were all at Land Between the Lakes and not home anyhow. Sometimes visits are just not possible due to time and I so understand that.

    JJ, Clarksville and Trenton are quite close! Nice towns indeed.

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  23. Hi Tina,
    My father in law was in the cavalry and trained horses. He also had an eye injury, I think, in Korea. He never talked about his experiences, and I wish he would/could have. He ended up working for Veterans' Service Center, or whatever it was called, helping vets find assistance they were qualified for. I remember an uncle being away for awhile in the Navy, and another in the Coast Guard. Other than those, no one else I'm around have been in the service.

    As someone who has been in the military, and whose husband and daughters are or have been in, you probably have many different experiences than I do. Plus, you end up knowing more military families because of your service.

    I hope morale is OK in military communities with all the debate in the news about who should be deployed where and when, and how they should get out. I feel I don't have enough information to have an opinion on those matters.

    Well, I had intended to say about the same things others did, but this is what my fingers typed. Congratulations on the blue star marker! I need to remember to pray more for people out of the country and their families.

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  24. (I should have said no one else "has" been, not "have" been.)

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  25. It was a wonderful day for the dedication of the blue star marker. We should all be proud and the timing...so close to Vetern Day was perfect. I loved talking to you and meeting your husband. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Jane

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  26. Sue, Thank you very much! The war has been most hard on so many folks you can't really blame them for not talking about it. Best wishes to you and your family.

    Jane, It was lovely seeing you again too! Thanks for commenting! That Blue Star looks great and each time I'm downtown I check it out. P.S. I'm going to save you an brugmansia if you'd like.

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