Veteran's Day Parade

From: southerncheer61@aim.com
Thursday, November 13, 2008

Dear Ron,

I am the wife of Bryan Green and a recent transfer member of the Knoxville UDC Chapter #89 (I am so excited). Bryan and I have purchased a home in Bean Station where we are working to move to soon!!! Most definitely it is not soon enough!!

Anyway, my family is from TN. I am coming home! My Grandfather from Union County was a WWI soldier. He was one of the most patriotic men I have ever known! I am not writing to you as a UDC member, but as my Grandpa's Granddaughter. My Grandfather would quietly put on his WWI uniform and go the Veteran's Day Parade in Knoxville. The very one that would not allow our compatriots and his Granddaughter to walk in with her flag on Tuesday. In 1959 my Grandfather was at that very parade (the picture is attached). The attached picture was taken by a gentleman named Hugh Lungsford at that parade in 1959 and put out on the AP. A big deal was made, they even had a special ceremony for him at Ft. Campbell, KY. The picture was nominated for a Pulitzer. The American Legion received a lot of very positive press because of my Grandfather in 1959, in 1979 when he died the picture and story were reprinted and another article is scheduled to be in the American Legion's National Publication. They have received good PR thanks to my Grandpa, but they would not let me walk with my flag in their parade. I just am still stunned and in disbelief at the ignorance and irony!! Bryan and I did try to make arrangements to walk in the Veteran's Day Parade, but were not going to be able to do so until next year.

I am most definitely my Grandpa' Granddaughter and had to go take a walk when I heard the news. If there is anything we can do to support your efforts to correct this situation please please let me know. My husband and I will continue to make sure that people know about the situation and add their voice to the concern already raised! I have also emailed HK to offer our support. He was the first person I thought about when I read that their would be no flags!! We are just so blessed that he is in our lives! I am so glad he was there. I am not finished either. The American Legion is going to get tired of hearing from our family!!!

Not only that, I was very offended by HK's and Lisa's experience yesterday. I am not sure why they were all alone, but for the mayor to not look at Lisa is inexcusable behavior on the part of a public servant!!! Also, little HK and sweet Lisa had police supervision, that is inexcusable, that was harrassment. I was standing with HK in Charleston, SC the morning they brought the Hunley up as another man walked by and spit at him. Of course HK's response was just to genuinely God Bless the man! Right then I decided I would never let someone's disrespect for him ever go by me unaddressed ever again! Those folks will be hearing from private citizen Diane.

If there is anything that Bryan or myself can do to support you in this issue, please please let us know. We will be in TN at Thanksgiving, also for a Memorial Service for the 145th Anniversary of the Battle of Bean Station at the Bean Station First Baptist Church Cemetery where my Great Grandfather who ran the hospital during the battle is buried with many unknown CSA soldiers on December 13th at noon, which I am sure you already knew about. Then we will be back again in January and plan to attend your Lee-Jackson Dinner again this year.

I must apolgize for my wordiness, but just know that whatever assistance we might be able to provide JUST ASK!

Diane Wright-Green