• Nov. 10, 2023, 11 AM
    Murfreesboro Veterans Day

    Memorial Service
  • Join Us
    Nov. 10, 2023, 11 AM

Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. Military Veterans ...formally started at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month since 1918

Highly Valued Traits That Veterans Possess! Discipline Flexibility Teamwork Leadership Commitment

JOIN US FOR THIS VETERANS DAY MEMORIAL SERVICE


Event Details
November 10, 2023 - 11am

Rutherford County Historic Courthouse

Outside on the corner of the square at the Rutherford County Historic Courthouse
*Rain or shine
*Bring your own bag chair
*FREE EVENT

Director

Barbara Smith Pitto is the Director of the Mufreesboro Veterans Day Celebration Service.

Our Speaker

Guest Speakers Our guest speaker today is Chaplain Ernest B. Newsom. Career: Military: U.S. Army, 3 yrs. served as a Dental assistant, Medic and social psychiatric assistant. He was later commissioned Navy LT., served in Navy 19 yrs. as Navy Chaplain.( 7th Afro American to obtain rank of NAVY CAPTAIN (06=full colonel) and first in state of Tennessee to obtain that rank.)

Ernest and his wife , Nolia reside in Murfreesboro and have two children, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Career: Military: U.S. Army, 3 yrs. served as a Dental assistant, Medic and social psychiatric assistant was discharged, honorably and then, using the G.I. Bill went back to school and earned three College degrees, MA in Christian Education, Master of Divinity and the Doctor of Ministry. He was later commissioned Navy LT., served in Navy 19 yrs. as Navy Chaplain.( 7th Afro American to obtain rank of NAVY CAPTAIN (06=full colonel) and first in state of Tennessee to obtain that rank.) Highlight of his career: while serving as Commanding Officer of The Marine Expeditionary Force Chaplain Service at Cherry Point Marine Corp Air Station, in North Carolina he, was tasked to conduct several funerals of Marines killed in combat and to counsel with grieving families to provide comfort. Following his tour at Cherry Point he was selected out of a competitive pool of thirty or more outstanding Naval Chaplains to lead the 6th Fleet Reserve Chaplain Command, Gaeta, Italy and after three very successful years there he was retired from the military after 22 years.

Civilian: Department of Veterans Affairs, he served as Staff Chaplain (GS-12) at the North Chicago, Veterans Administration Medical Center, 7rs. Served as Chief Chaplain (GM-13) for the Alvin C. York Veterans Administration Medical Center, Murfreesboro, TN first African American to hold position at this facility.

In his retirement, he is currently the State Chairman of the Veterans and Military Committee for the NAACP and is a free-lance jazz musician who plays for churches, festivals, groups (large or small) and the like. He is a life-time member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, NAACP, American Legion, Naval Reserves Association and Reserve Officers Association. Recent Awards include, Humanitarian Award, Outstanding Naval Chaplain Award, Unity Award, The NICE’s Global Award, Alpha Man’s “Hear My Heart Award” and many others.
Listening to jazz, playing and arranging music, ping-pong, collecting African artifacts and reading.

Veterans - Our Heroes

"Never give in — never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy."
— Winston Churchill

"Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country's cause. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves, as he best can, the same cause."
— Abraham Lincoln


Murfreesboro Veterans Day Service

The Murfreesboro Veterans Day Service is set for November 10, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. This is our 27th year! The service will be held at the Rutherford County Courthouse (Rain or shine - Bring your own bag chair - Free Event).

This is our 27 year!

This will be a truly inspiring uplifting event that will lift your heart in patriotism and love of country. Please spread the word and let's celebrate our veterans together this year - November 10, 2023

Event History

Mrs. Elsie Stem started this program in 1996 over 27 years ago. Her beloved husband was a veteran and she did an excellent job for all those years through 2011. At that time, she turned the program over to a new director Myra Simons who conducted the event from 2012-2019. 2020 marks our newest director Barbara Smith Pitto . We are forever grateful to everyone who has and is supporting this ongoing.

Event Location

  • Address: 1 S Public Square # 103, Murfreesboro, TN 37130
  • Phone: (615) 887-8588 - Barbara Smith Pitto, Director
  • Email: [email protected]

Event Time

  • November 10, 2023 - 11am