Pictured are Carolyn Caulkins, first vice regent and Joana Roberts, Fine Arts facilitator
Pictured are Katrina Daoud and Rebecca Love
Pictured are Carolyn Caulkins, first vice regent and Brittany Harris, assistant principal
Pictured are Katrina Daoud, yearbook chairwoman and Alisha McLaughlin, homeless liaison
Members of the Moccasin Bend Chapter, NSDAR presented a framed copy of the Tennessee State Poem to eight local schools.
Bess T. Shepherd, Harrison Elementary, Wallace A. Smith, St. Peters Episcopal School, Nolan Elementary, Thrasher Elementary and Barger Academy of Fine Arts received a framed copy of this poem to display at their school.
The poem was written by Naval Admiral William Porter Lawrence. Admiral Lawrence was born in Nashville and turned down a scholarship to Yale University to attend the U.S.
Naval Academy, where he earned the highest rank for a midshipman, brigade commander. On June 28, 1967, he was shot down over North Vietnam and imprisoned in the notorious Hanoi Hilton. To pass the time during his imprisonment, he composed poetry in his head. During this time, he created “Oh Tennessee, My Tennessee.” It describes the love and longing he felt for his beautiful home state. His poem was adopted as the official Tennessee State Poem in 1973.
"The Moccasin Bend Chapter was happy to present this poem to these eight local schools so their students can become acquainted with this beautiful, patriotic poem," officials said.