Colonel Beverly Lee to Speak at Veterans Day Ceremony
Mayor Lane Curlee and the Tullahoma Board of Aldermen invite veterans and
the public to attend the Veterans Day Ceremony to be held on Wednesday,
November 11 at the South Jackson Civic Center at 404 South Jackson Street.
The doors will open at 10:30 a.m. At the 11th hour, on the 11th day, of the
11th month of 2015, the City of Tullahoma will pause to honor America's
Veterans and celebrate their contributions to our way of life.
Colonel Beverly Lee- United States Air Force, Retired, will be the featured
speaker at the City of Tullahoma's annual Veterans Day Ceremony. She has had
a distinguished career in the USAF from 1975 to 2005, and was awarded the
Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism
Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, as well as many other awards.
She is a graduate of Tullahoma High School, Motlow State Community College,
holds a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from the University of
Memphis, and a Master of Arts Degree in Psychology, Guidance and Counseling
from the University of Northern Colorado.
Colonel Lee was the first female cadet in the Memphis State University Air
Force ROTC, a graduate of Air Intelligence officer school at Lowry AFB, CO,
Air Force Survival School, Foreign Internal Defense/Counter-Terrorism
courses, as well as the Air Command and Staff School and Air War College.
She has been stationed at numerous bases in the U.S., Europe, and Asia
serving as an intelligence officer early in her career and public affairs
officer in the reserves for over 20 years. She has studied terrorism,
aircraft, weapon systems, and tactics of Russian and Chinese forces and
served as a senior public affairs spokesperson for major events and projects
for the Department of Defense. She was activated during Desert Storm and
Operation Iraqi Freedom and deployed in support of Operation Enduring
Freedom. After September 11, 2001, Colonel Lee was deployed to United States
Forces Japan in Yokota AFB Japan and worked closely with the U.S. Embassy
where the former Tennessee Senator Howard Baker was ambassador.
Since returning to Tullahoma from Laguna NIguel, California, she has been
active in community and civic organizations and endeavours. Colonel Lee has
been a leader supporting civic engagement and currently serves as Vice
President of the Tennessee World Affairs Council and as a board member of
Seven Sisters International supporting victims of human trafficking. She is
also a member of the Arnold Community Council and the Motlow Women's
Philanthropic Society.
"I look forward to honoring our men and women who have served in the
military, and thanking this community for their incredible support." said
Colonel Lee.
In her last assignment, Colonel Lee served as the Secretary of the Air
Force, Director of Entertainment Liaison advising writers, producers and
studio executives on military life, operations, and training; assisting in
the production of an Emmy nominated Super Bowl commercial, major motion
pictures, television shows, and special events saluting our military men and
women.
Colonel Lee is also the former president of the Capistrano Unified School
District Foundation (Orange County, California) serving 52 schools with more
than 51,000 students with a focus on funding technology needs and the arts
programs. In addition, she has served as a PTA president, on numerous county
task forces, and as a community advisor on the National Children's Study
(DHHS). Prior to moving to Tullahoma, TN, she was the 2002 Citizen of the
Year for the city of Laguna Niguel and the 2004 ASYMCA Military Volunteer of
the Year at Camp Pendleton MCAS, CA.
Introducing Colonel Beverly Lee will be Major General Robert Alan Harris.
General Harris was the Assistant Adjutant General - Army, Tennessee National
Guard, retired, had a distinguished career from 1978 to 2013, and he earned
the Bronze Star and the Legion of Merit, as well as many other awards.
"Soldiers have an amazing capacity to do good, and we should celebrate those
who serve today and pause to commemorate those who Heaven has already
collected," said Major General Harris.
"When you honor those who gave their yesterdays in defense of this country,
you honor the best of what men and women can be," said Mayor Lane Curlee.
"We are pleased to host this event for veterans and it is an honor to have
our local military leaders participating in Tullahoma's Veterans Day
Ceremony."
Other participants will include Mayor Lane Curlee, and Ruby Luna, Regent,
Tullahoma Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution. Other groups taking
part in the program include American Legion Post No. 43, VFW Post No. 4188,
Marine Corps League Detachment 1128 and Boy Scout Troop 402. Patriotic music
will be provided by select members of the Tullahoma High School Band, THS
Aristocats and Lloyd Smith.
The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held each year at Arlington National
Cemetery. The ceremony commences precisely at 11:00 a.m. with a wreath
laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns. The ceremony is intended to honor and
thank all who served in the United States Armed Forces. Originally known as
Armistice Day, it was proclaimed in 1919 to commemorate the end of World War
I and the veterans of that war. In 1954 the United States Congress, at the
urging of the veterans service organizations, changed the observance to
Veterans Day to honor Americans of all wars.
