By LEON HUMPHREY

CARTER COUNTY MAYOR
You may have noticed some work going on in Courthouse Square at Veteran’s Monument. The Monument was erected in 1912 and was dedicated to honor all soldiers of Carter County in all the wars from the Revolution to present date.
The Monument is one of Carter County’s treasured landmarks and as such should always be maintained in optimal condition. The Monument was painted this week and its markers restored. The cannons flanking the Monument were also freshly painted and the mortar repaired on the pedestals they rest on. The landscaping was replaced in 2015.
In addition to the Monument updates, the County Commission authorized the installation of a dedicated space on Main Street beside the Courthouse for Veterans to park. I personally purchased the Veterans Parking Sign from Mr. Chris Arnold of the Dog Tag Brigade Veterans Foundation. Mr. Danny Hilbert and his staff professionally installed the sign in that it is compliant with all city ordinances. We want the sign to be standing tall for many years to come. This is a small token of appreciation for the commitment and sacrifices these veterans have made in that we can enjoy countless daily privileges and freedoms. We are truly blessed by their service both home and abroad.
Carter County is deeply grateful to all our Veterans. 5,500 Veterans currently reside in the County. Veterans Day 2017 will be celebrated on November 11th. As President Abraham Lincoln shared, “The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.
The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here,
but it can never forget what they did here.”
I encourage each of you to extended a heartfelt thank you to all our veterans and those currently serving. We owe them a tremendous debt which will never be paid.
Please feel free to contact me at mayor@cartercountytn.gov or by phone at 423-542-1801 if you have any questions or if I can be of assistance to you. My office is located at 801 East Elk Avenue, Suite 201 located in the County Courthouse in Elizabethton. I have an open-door policy and everyone is always welcome.