Apr. 30 – It was a great day for baseball. It was a great day for patriotism. It was a great day for Sevier County. On Monday, April 28, an estimated 6700 people walked through the doors of Smokies Stadium to watch a great game of baseball and more importantly, to show support of our troops. “We all enjoyed it. It really was wonderful,” stated the organizer of the event Steve Layman. “The turnout was close to 6700, including everyone who came and went. The veterans were duly recognized. The military personnel and veterans who have served this country so faithfully were honorable recognized at the event.”
The rally was well choreographed. After the pledge to the American flag, guest speaker, Two-Star General R. Davis from Alcoa, TN., came to the mike to talk about the importance of supporting the troops. “People who do not support our troops are wrong,” stated Davis.
It was then time to recognize the military, including veterans, active personnel, POW/KIA and MIA’s as four T-34 Warbirds of America flew overhead. “We had veterans from WW2, Vietnam, the Gulf War, the Korean War even some POW’s were in the crowd. They were standing ten feet tall they were so proud,” stated Layman.
Following a moment of silence, a prayer was held by Rev. R. Davis followed by a patriotic singing of “God Bless America” by Lee Greenwood. Greenwood also sang the National Anthem. You could see tears swelling up in the eyes of many as Greenwood sang. Greenwood himself began to tear up when a wife of one of the Sevier County soldiers aboard the USS Teddy Roosevelt, which is currently in the Middle East off the Iraq Coast came to the field to talk to her husband live on the microphone via a satellite hook-up that radio station WIVK who hosted the event set-up. “We love you and miss you,” she said as people in the audience applauded.
Layman, a veteran of the Gulf War summed up the event this way, “I couldn’t ask for it to be any better.”

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