Riverbend-Size Crowd Shows Up For Chattanooga United Events Honoring 5 Slain Service Personnel

A "Riverbend-size crowd" showed up for the Chattanooga United events downtown on Wednesday honoring the five slain military personnel from the July shooting.

A number of high school bands and ROTC units and other military units were among those featured in a downtown parade that began at 2 p.m. and went down Broad Street to the river.

There was also a dramatic flyover of the Blue Angels.

Mayor Andy Berke was among the speakers prior to the start of the concert that was emceed by Chattanooga native Samuel L. Jackson on the Coke Stage that was brought in just for the event.

Harry Connick Jr. was one of the concert headliners.

Brantley Gilbert announced this week that he had invited Trace Adkins, Colt Ford and Aaron Lewis to perform at the Chattanooga Unite: A Tribute On The River benefit.

All proceeds go to aid the families of the slain service members through the National Compassion Fund.

The event was to end with a fireworks display on the river.

 There was free parking at all CARTA parking lots and garages, and CARTA ran a shuttle to Finley Stadium, where there was more free parking.

Jackson said he was in the Mediterranean on vacation when he heard of the attack at the Naval and Marine Reserve Center. Saying he felt "violated," he said, "I was just amazed and shocked that it could happen in a place I call home."

He said he does not return to Chattanooga often, but he said his roots are still here and he still feels part of the community and wants to help it heal.

He said it is his hope that Chattanoogans can come out of the tragedy stronger.