Chattanooga celebrates city’s 75th Armed Forces Day

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Armed Forces Day celebration in Chattanooga took place on Friday, May 3, 2024. This is the 75th anniversary of Chattanooga’s Armed Forces Day.

Historically, the event highlights one specific branch of the military each year. However, the parade honored all branches of the U.S. military this year for its 75th anniversary.

Chattanooga’s Armed Force Day Parade is the longest, uninterrupted Armed Forces Day celebration in the United States.

Armed Forces Day Parade 2024. Chattanooga Police Dept.

The parade began at 10:30 a.m. at the intersection of MLK Boulevard and Market Street. It concluded at Chestnut Street. Retired U.S. Navy Captain Mickey McCamish said this is the same route taken to honor Medal of Honor recipient Captain Larry Taylor in September.

Following the parade, the Armed Forces Day luncheon began at noon at the Chattanooga Convention Center. This year, Chattanooga-native and Army Four-Star General, Burwell B. Bell was the parade marshal and keynote speaker at the luncheon.

Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly was scheduled to deliver remarks at the luncheon as well.

“We live in divisive times, but we’ve got to take every opportunity we can to create and strengthen the bonds of community,” said Mayor Kelly. “And this is something that that every American can and should rally around, right. So, this is one of those points in Chattanooga where we can all come together as a community and celebrate what makes the city great, when that makes the state and country right.”

Prior to these events, local government leaders met at the Read House to hold a press conference about Chattanoga’s Armed Forces Day events. Mayor Kelly, Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, Army Vice Chief of Staff General James Mingus, and General Burwell Bell all spoke at the presser.

Nationally, Armed Forces Day is recognized on the third Saturday of May.