I have a very special blog post today about a special person that several of us honored this past Memorial Day, John Arnot, who fought in the Revolutionary War. He was Greg's fourth great-grandfather. He was from New York when he fought in the war. He eventually moved to East Tennessee and was buried in Bent Creek Cemetery in Whitesburg, Tennessee.
It was at Bent Creek Cemetery where the members of the LTC Felix Walker Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), along with the Ruth Davidson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), presented a grave marking ceremony honoring patriot John Arnot. Many of John Arnot's descendants also attended.
Mike, president of his local SAR and descendant of John Arnot, arrives along with one of his grandsons for the ceremony. Mike is Greg's brother.
We enjoyed our time greeting and...
catching up with seldom-seen family members.
Patriotism was very much on display-
with wreaths and...
Betsy Ross flags...
that have 13 stars that represent the 13 colonies that fought for freedom during the Revolutionary War.
Some even dressed for the occasion.
Mike opened the ceremony with his welcoming remarks.
The impressive, informative ceremony included the histories of the SAR and the DAR, and the origin of Memorial Day that were all presented by members of the SAR and the DAR. Everyone joined in singing our national anthem.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by direct descendants, a brother and sister, who are both in the Scouts.
Enjoying the Ceremony
Comments were made by two of John's descendants-
Expressing Gratitude for Patriots' Service
Telling about Life in the 1770's
Wreaths Were Placed
The grave marker was uncovered...
and dedicated.
At the end there was a benediction.
Around 30 people attended the grave marking ceremony.
It was a wonderful, unique experience for all who attended, especially for the younger people.
It was time to leave the cemetery and...
to continue our day of celebration in Elizabethton, Tennessee...
Afterwards, Greg and I explored the park...
and discovered this awe-inspiring statue that was fittingly "Dedicated to the Spirit of the Overmountain Men Heroes of the American Revolution."
We all have our special memories of this special day of honoring a patriot, and the memento above will help to forever remind us of one man and many other brave heroes like him who fought to make our great country free.
Featured Restaurant-
The Tavern
The Tavern is the oldest of Abingdon's historic buildings. It is number two out of 43 restaurants in Abingdon, Virginia according to Tripadvisor. At The Tavern, they serve delicious food including American, steaks, and seafood. I thought that this was an appropriate restaurant to feature on this post since it was founded in 1779, around the time of the Revolutionary War. For more information: www.abingdontavern.net
For a related post on The Tavern, please see my May 15, 2021 blog post entitled "The (Haunted) Tavern." https://spiritphotographs.blogspot.com
Special Cat Update-
Birthday Cats
Our two indoor cats, Kallie and Mitzi, recently celebrated their fourteenth birthday. They were given new toys and a special treat of sardines. A good time was had by all!
Positive Thought: "It is just as important to honor and cherish the living as it is to honor and cherish those who have passed on."-Becky Arnott
Thanks for visiting! Until Sunday, July 4, 2021, Becky
