A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....09-05-03...."Tennessee ~ America at its Best"

Mama_Bear

[Mama_Bear]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Mama_Bear, dansangel, dutchess, Aquamarine ~

Please join us as we take a cyber-tour of another great state in this Union of ours. As we discover and spotlight each of our 50 states we also salute the proud FReepers who call their state 'home'.

Over the coming months each "Finest" hostess will profile her own home state - I will be presenting all the other states in random order. Please FReepMail me if you would like to participate in spotlighting your state. I would love to have your input on what you would like to see highlighted.

To date I have presented Alabama, Maryland, Vermont, Utah and Nevada. Billie has taken us on a cyber-tour of her home state, Texas, and FreeTheHostages has presented Washington D.C. Today we are visiting "The Volunteer State".

Mama_Bear

...and the firefly who wouldn't stay
put in the state symbols graphic above. LOL.

We are in for a real treat today as we tour this colorful state, but first, our mandatory (but brief) history lesson...





Tennessee was admitted into the Union in 1796, but the official state flag was not adopted until April 17, 1905. This flag was designed by LeRoy Reeves of the Third Regiment of the Tennessee Infantry. The three white stars in the center symbolize the three different geographical regions of Tennessee: the Great Smoky Mountains (in eastern Tennessee), the highlands (in central Tennessee) and the lowlands (in western Tennessee, by the Mississippi River). The white circle binds them together. The blue stripe along the margin was added for distinction when the flag is hanging.

One of the focal points in the history of Tennessee, like most of the south, is the many battles and skirmishes fought during the Civil War. Sadly, over the course of this war that pitted brother against brother, much Union and Confederate blood was shed throughout Tennessee. The list of battlefields in this state is long and I won't list them all here, but this website, The Tennessee Civil War Home Page is an excellent resource for those interested in that chapter in Tennessee's history.

King of the Wild Frontier

A rather colorful figure from the pages of Tennessee history is Davy Crockett, who, as those of us old enough to remember the song know, was "born on a mountain top in Tennessee" and went on to become a larger than life legend in his own time and one of our most interesting Congressmen.

He was commander of a battalion in the Creek Indian War in 1813-1814. He was a member of the Tennessee legislature in 1821-1822 and again in 1823-1824, and of the twentieth Congress of the United States in the years 1827-1829, in the twenty-first Congress, 1829-1831 and again, in the twenty-third Congress, 1833-1835. To be a representative in the Tennessee legislature and then serve honorably as a member of Congress of the United States, was quite a feat for one with less than six months schooling. His motto was,

"Be always sure you are right, then go ahead."


If you have not read Congressman Crockett's inspiring speech before the House of Representatives, click the link below. It is long, but well worth the time it takes to read. It is a reminder that, once upon a time, our country was governed by men of principle.

Not Yours to Give

(...would that our Representatives today exercise such honor and integrity in the stewardship of our tax dollars.)

Davy Crockett is buried near his birthplace in Limestone, Tennessee; his tombstone reads:

"Davy Crockett, Pioneer, Patriot,
Soldier, Trapper, Explorer, State Legislator,
Congressman, Martyred at The Alamo. 1786 - 1836"

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A bit of Trivia. Did you know...

...that Tennessee has SEVEN state songs? - My Homeland Tennessee, The Tennessee Waltz, When It's Iris Time in Tennessee, My Tennessee, Rocky Top, Tennessee, and The Pride of Tennessee.

...that the "Blues" got it's start in Tennessee? - W.C. Handy, B.B. King, and others all helped the blues grow from rowdy bar music to world wide appreciation - On Beale street in Memphis

...that three of John Grisham's novels are set in Tennessee? - "The Firm", "The Rainmaker", and "The Client" all take place in Memphis.

...and finally, did you know that Elvis Presley's home, "Graceland", is the second most visited home in the country? - It ranks only behind the White House in terms of visitors per year.

********************

Nashville is the national center of country music, and the Grand Ol' Opry is definitely on our itinerary. Then it is off to Memphis to tour Graceland, but first we'll stop at Dollywood, tour Great Smoky Mountains National Park, The Hermitage (home of Andrew Jackson near Nashville), and Rock City Gardens near Chattanooga. There is so much to see and do in Tennessee!

Are ya' ready for some football???

While we are here we can take in a game; either a University of Tennessee "Volunteers" football game (BTW, Tennessee beat Fresno State 24-6 in their season opener Saturday. I suppose, since it is not good form to 'boo' a team from a state I am profiling, I will just say "congratulations Vols" and, "better luck next time, Bulldogs". LOL!),



or, one of the Tennessee Titans games...



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Finally, with fall right around the corner,
let's take a look at Tennessee dressed
in her spectacular autumn colors.

A preview of coming attractions...







********************

Thank you to the following websites for information and graphics:
The Tennessee Civil War Home Page
Tennessee History and Trivia
Smoky Mountain Slide Show

I hope you have enjoyed our cyber-tour of Tennessee.
Have a nice FRiday and a great weekend!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 08-30 thru 9-01-03 Labor Day Weekend 09-02-03 FReeper Pet weinie (Lonestar) 09-03-03 To LBGA - With Love 09-04-03 John's Two Cents - JohnHuang2

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

[FreeTheHostages]

P.S. Mama_Bear is very diplomatic. She didn't mention that Vermont is overrun by socialists and she didn't mention that HE came from Tennessee. I applaud her let's-look-on-the-good-side of things approach.

[LadyX]

"I enjoy posting my purple cup!"

And to us here at The Finest, Rus, it is a symbol of the friendship you add to the brew, and stir with kindness and caring - -
just seeing it, like the things Aeronaut and GailA and Mixer and Carlsbad Caveman bring so regularly, gives us a wonderful feeling for our days.

Thank you to each of you - -

[Mama_Bear]

Hmmm....I had forgotten about Al Gore. Just as well. I like my state posts to be upbeat, refreshing and positive. LOL.

But since his name has come up, remember this story?

Al Gore's Tennessee "Tempest In a Toilet"?

[Pippin]

Thanks, Free!

I just couldn't bear to even type his name

[Pippin]

Another thing I learned on my last trip to Tennessee in 2001 I didn't know, but before Tennesse became a state, it had a different name, It was called Franklin. My cousin told me this while we were in Greenenville.

[Pippin]

PULLLLEEEEEEAAAASSSSEEEEE!

Did you HAVE to mention that twit!

[LadyX]

How interesting that is about your Dad, Pippin!
Tennessee is a beautiful state indeed.

[Mama_Bear]

Hi Freezie. Yep, Tennessee was our 16th state admitted to the Union in 1796.

Presenting these states has been an education for me too. I just love it.....but don't know how much of it I will retain. After awhile I'm afraid all of these facts are going to get all jumbled up together.

[Pippin]

And one of my favorite C/W singers is from Knoxville, Tenneessee, Kenny Chesney! :O)

They know how to grow 'em in Tenn. If you know what I mean! ;O)

[JustAmy]

A girl was visiting her blonde friend who had acquired two new dogs, and asked her what their names were.

The blonde responded by saying that one was named Rolex and one was named Timex.

Her friend said, "Whoever heard of someone naming dogs like that?"

"HelOOOooo," answered the blond. "They're watch dogs!"

~~~~~~~~~ Ta Da ~~~~~~~~~

[Pippin]

Thanks! :O)

[Billie]

Billie, it's your fault!

Now my day is complete. I missed you yesterday. :)

[Mama_Bear]

Thanks for the post about Dolly Parton. That is exactly what I hoped people would do, add more information pertaining to the state on the thread. There is only so much I can include in the main post, without it becoming too long.

Did I miss the Dollywood paragraph?

LOL. No, unfortunately, she didn't even get a sentence.....but "Dollywood" got a quick mention. :-)

[Mama_Bear]

I applaud her let's-look-on-the-good-side of things approach.

Thank you, Free. I've been called a "Pollyanna" before,.......... like that's a bad thing?? ;-)

[JustAmy]

Hey ..... I think I watched a movie several years ago starring Dolly Parton about a little house in Texas?

[Aquamarine]

If you were there during the peak of the leaves turning that was the busiest time of the year to be there. Would have been even worse on the weekend.
We don't tend to go up during that time of the year, if we do go in the fall we try to go before peak season.

[LadyX]

"Today is the first day with all 3 of my little ones back at school. :( "

Brings some Ancient Memories!
LOL

Calpernia can be heard singing "FREEDOM - FREEDOM - FREEDOM!!! "

(albeit for brief intervals - -)

[Mama_Bear]

Hello lonestar, hello Weinie. Thanks for coming to Tennessee with us today. :-)

[JustAmy]

Blount Mansion

William Blount had been one of only 39 signers of the U.S. Constitution when President George Washington appointed him to be Governor of the Territory of the United States South of the River Ohio. In 1792, construction started on his home and Capitol in the newly founded City of Knoxville. Mary Blount described the Mansion as a "proper wooden house" in a community of log cabins and log houses.

Blount Mansion stood as a witness to the tireless campaigns and political maneuvers that transformed the Southwest Territory to the State of Tennessee. It tells the story of the founding of Blount College (now the University of Tennessee,) the story of international intrigue and the only Senatorial impeachment, and the story of the King bitten by bedbugs. It tells stories of politicians, a well-to-do frontier family, and of 10 slaves who built and ran a mansion.

If I ever get to Tennessee, I would like to tour this place; sounds interesting.

[MeekOneGOP]

hehe ! Yep ! I always think about GWB's last minute year 2000 campaign strategy of visiting Arkansas AND Tennessee the last day before the election. That Gore lost BOTH states leads Bush's strategy to be known as the Bush Clinton-Gore eyepoke ...

Had Gore carried his own state, Florida would NEVER have been on the table as an issue. He LOST the election in Arkansas and Tennessee alrighty !!