CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Montgomery County Veterans Service Organization (VSO) held its annual Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza. Close to 250 local officials, veterans and supporters attended the service.

The posting of the colors for the ceremony was carried out by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Color Guard, guest speaker was Col. Andrew Jordan, garrison commander at Fort Campbell, and taps was played by MCSO Investigator Angela Christian.

The Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Fort Campbell Garrison Commander, Colonel Andrew Jordan speaking at the Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts at the Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden speaking at the Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Andrew Kester speaking at the Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville High School Carnival and Encore Choir at the Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts and First Lady Cindy Pitts at the Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests at the Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Guests at the Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Members of Women Veterans of America at the Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Colonel Andrew Jordan speaks to two young guests at the Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Senator Bill Powers, Colonel Andrew Jordan, & Representative Ronnie Glynn at the Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Sheriff’s Office Investigator Angela Christian at the Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
The Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Colonel Andrew Jordan, Mayor Wes Golden, & Mayor Joe Pitts at the Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)
Joe Michaels performing “13 Folds” at the Clarksville-Montgomery County Memorial Day Service at the William O. Beach Civic Hall in Veterans Plaza on May 29, 2023. (Lee Erwin)

A Memorial Day wreath was presented by Jordan, County Mayor Wes Golden, and Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts. Twelve other local veterans service organizations also presented wreaths at the ceremony. Stella McKnight and the Clarksville High School Carnival and Encore Choir sang the national anthem.

VSO Director Andrew Kester said it’s important to remember the fallen in Clarksville-Montgomery County.

“We have a large veteran community, and we have a large Gold Star community. We have had service members that passed away from injuries and illnesses from their service,” Kester said.

Kester added that since 1775, 1.3 million Americans who have lost their lives in service to the nation.