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"

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

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...



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

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

[Mama_Bear]

Very interesting, I'd like to read more about this.

When I started reading your post about the Blounts, I thought the name sounded familiar. Then I remembered seeing the Blount name in connection with the University of Tennessee.

[Mama_Bear]

"They're watch dogs!"

LOL!

[LadyX]

Your photograph is gorgeous, Aquamarine!
You are so fortunate to be within driving distance of so many lovely places - - I miss North Carolina for that reason, living there for 19 years.

[MeekOneGOP]

Thanks ! CarlsbadCaveman made a special pot of coffee just for you !! ...

Have a cup while you FReep !

[JustAmy]

I want to do more Google to see what else I can find regarding the Blounts and the Blount Mansion. That sounds like an interesting place to visit if ever in the Knoxville area.

[Mama_Bear]

Time for lunch. I'll be back later.

[MeekOneGOP]

hehe ! No problem. Leave it to me to bring up something like that I guess, lol !

It seems I do recall something about that story. That would be a good one to post here on FR in the future. Thanks for the link to it !

[MeekOneGOP]

LOL !!

[GailA]

Now why would the rest of Tennesseans want to divorce themselves from Memphis...the trash can of the South? After all we are home to Graceland and Beale St as well as home to the Grizzlies now. Sure we are the highest crime city, the worst schools, the highest taxes, the most criminals in the state prisons, the most crooked politicals..i.e. FORDS.

BUT we do have Graceland as a redeming feature.

[The Thin Man]

(lazy)

Where would you get such a ridiculous idea?

[bert]

Keep in mind that the county adjacent to Knox county is Blount county. The county seat of my county, Sullivan, is Blountville.

The name is pronounced Blunt. The o is silent.

[The Thin Man]

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

Shucks! I was hoping to ruin it. :)

[Molly Pitcher]

WHAT an absolutely lovely thread, MB!!

Fantastic Friday greetings to everyone here...

Guenevere please check this out about your home state.

[The Thin Man]

I'm just too mean. :)

Good news, LadyX! It looks like there may be hope for FreeTheSausages after all. At least she now recognizes her problem.

:-)

[SpookBrat]

Hi Pippin. Nice to see you. What I like about Tennessee the best is most of the names on the Alamo were volunteers from that great state. They loved freedom so much, they came to Texas to help us get it. They gave their lives for Texas :( I always cry when I read those names.

[lonestar]

Prayers for Weinie, please.

She ran across the room to bark at a cat or squirrel and started bleeding from the nose. She is in the hospital.

[LadyX]

MAMA_BEAR!!!

Are you trying to bait The Thin Man, too, with that Tenneessee Walker mini-article??!!

"Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' Association nearly Regestered more than 300,000 horses in the United states today."

If they nearly "Regestered" more than 300,000 horses in the U.S. - how many DID they register?!!
LOLOL - - -

[Mixer]

Hiya, Mix :-)

Hey John. Hope you have a good weekend.

[Mixer]

Thanks for the link to the Utah thread. I am sure my Wife and I will enjoy looking through it.

For anyone who lives in TN. What is the best time of year, for someone who has never been there, to visit.

[bert]

That depends on what you like.

It's 550 miles alonf I 40 from my place in East Tennessee to GailA's in Memphis. I wrote in this thread above about the October leaves. I live in the foothills of the Great Smokies where the color changes are gradual over a period of weeks. October is also Football Time in Tennessee. Knoxville is transformed by 100k fans out of their minds with the Vol feaver.

If you like the heavy duty tourist attaractions as in Pigeon Forge/ Dollywood and Gatlinburg it doesn't matter much.....they'll take your money all year long.

My personal favorite time is April. I'm a wild flower man and that is the season of most flowers and best overall displays.