For more than 200 years, Tennessee has been known as "the Volunteer State." That nickname dates back to the War of 1812, when the state contributed thousands of volunteers toward the war effort. The tradition was reinforced a few decades later in the Mexican War when the state produced more than10 times the number of recruits Washington requested - and that proud tradition still lives on today.
Tennesseans respect and admire active duty, retired and deceased military personnel. And there is a way they can express that respect and admiration while exercising one of the most important rights our armed forces protect.
In this year's elections, voters can honor active, retired or deceased members of the military through the Secretary of State's Honor Vote program.
The program is free of charge. Those who wish to participate simply log on to www.GoVoteTN.com/honor and fill out a short electronic form.
The names of participants and the people they choose to honor will appear on the website. Each participant will also receive a commemorative Honor Vote button.
"We launched the Honor Vote program two years ago and it's proven to be very popular," Secretary of State Tre Hargett said. "Tennesseans have demonstrated that they value our military and are proud to show their support for the men and women who keep us safe."