Greetings,

            As most of you should know, I have stepped down from the Location Coordinator position for Wreaths Across America at the Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery. Although I am still involved in Fundraising and volunteering for the program. Amanda Brown and her husband Jeremy “Kid” Brown has assumed the roles as Location Coordinator and Co-Coordinator. For any questions, comments or concerns about the program itself or the ceremony and wreath laying, please contact Amanda at abrownwaatn@gmail.com or call/text her cell (918) 808-2779. I continue to be a point of contact for anything concerning donations, sponsorships or designating a Grave Specific request for the remainder of this year. 

            We now have 79 Kroger shoppers who have designated Wreaths Across America as their chosen charity. Code “YW675”. Every 3 months we have received a check from Kroger averaging $350 each representing a percentage of the proceeds from shoppers using their Kroger Plus card. Thank you. If anyone needs help registering WAA as the charity designation for your Kroger Plus card, please contact me to walk you through the process.  

            For the past 5 years, WAA has offered a wreath match from mid December through mid January. This can be done because they had a business sponsor step up and pledge the funds to match all purchased wreaths during that time frame. It is the most value for your donation/sponsorship.  However, this year, we currently have a pledge from the Andrea Waitt Carlton Family Foundation, locally, to match any purchased wreaths until Veterans Day (November 11th) up to the first 1,000 wreaths. This is for our cemetery only and by supporting through one of our Sponsorship Groups, it provides even more value. If you do not have a specific group link, for example, http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/TN0080  then when you view the WAA Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery page http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/TNMTVN  scroll down to the bottom and select one of the Sponsorship Groups to support.  Please be sure that your online donation is going through a Wreaths Across America link and not some outside organization.  We cannot guarantee wreaths will be available, if sourced through them, because we do not maintain a working relationship. Checks made payable to “Wreaths Across America” may be mailed to 91 Appleton Road, Five Points, TN 38457. 

           Our need is always a moving target as the cemetery averages 8-15 burials per week. The target for December 14th has been set at 14,000 wreaths and as of this morning we are at 8,284. If you have been putting off or waiting for a certain time of year to sponsor wreaths, NOW is the time! We have been blessed to have a wreath for every headstone the past 3 years. Now the challenge is to keep attaining that goal. Making a purchase during the matching offer, as we have right now, is our best opportunity to be successful once again. 

Respectfully, gino giambelluca

(931) 556-2340 home

(931) 242-7931 cell

Veterans Day Parade at Alvin C. York VA Medical Center

You are invited to VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System Veterans Day Parade!

Join us on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 11 a.m. for a heartfelt celebration honoring the brave individuals who served in our armed forces. The parade will commence at the front steps of Building 1, located at Alvin C. York VA Medical Center. We invite you to bring your chairs and enjoy a vibrant parade featuring a flyover, live music, flags carried by Junior ROTC, beautifully decorated floats, antique cars, and various entertainment. This is a wonderful opportunity to express gratitude and celebrate the sacrifices made by our Veterans.

There will be pre-parade events including music, Veteran resource tables, and local food vendors.

October 13th, This Sunday

Tickets are $25 for Adults, ($10 for 12 and under) and gives you entry into the Event, Sampling from each of our Veterans Campers with sides. There will be live Music entertainment also. 

You will be automatically entered into several drawings we will have throughout the day giving away items from Oklahoma Joe Smokers, Nine Line Apparel, Drip EZ BBQ supplies, Grill Your Ass Off Sauces and Spices and Heritage Distilling Whiskey commemorating the 80th Anniversary of D-Day.

We will have Craft Beers, Water and Soft Drinks available for a separate purchase. We will have some young ladies from the American Heritage Girls Troop selling desserts as a fundraiser.

We request that Legionnaires attending the Event purchase their tickets online ahead of the Event here https://veterans-bbq-camp.square.site/

The American Legion is a great Sponsor of the Veterans BBQ Camp veteransbbqcamp.org so we invite Post 281 to come and set up an information booth representing the American Legion.

Rural Hill Farm https://ruralhillfarm.com/ is a beautiful venue with plenty of open space so I would encourage Legionnaires to bring some folding Camping chairs for their convenience and comfort. There will be tables and chairs set up for dining on the BBQ.

Service Dogs are allowed and encouraged. Other dogs/pets please stay home for this one.

This event is open to the Public so please share with your Family….Friends….Churches and local Businesses and encourage them to attend.

Reach out to me directly via Call or Text or email using the Contact information below if you have any questions.

Walt – Post 39 Lewisburg

Walter J. Redding Jr.

912-312-2335

walter.redding@gmail.com