Pace
Banner photo, DAVID DAVIS
Boy Scouts from across Bradley County gathered Saturday for a short ceremony before disbursing to place about 1,500 U.S. flags on graves of veterans in cemeteries throughout the county.
Tiger Scouts render a hand salute during the posting of colors Saturday morning in the Bradley County Courthouse Plaza. Scouts of all ages placed about 1,500 U.S. flags on veterans' graves in 16 cemeteries in observance of Memorial Day.
Boy Scouts from across Bradley County gathered Saturday for a short ceremony before disbursing to place about 1,500 U.S. flags on graves of veterans in cemeteries throughout the county.
Boy Scout Troop 44 provided the color guard for a short ceremony Saturday morning in the Bradley County Courthouse Plaza. Scouts of all ages placed about 1,500 U.S. flags on veterans' graves in 16 cemeteries in observance of Memorial Day. In the background are some of the 150 flags purchased as a fundraiser for the Southeast Tennessee Veterans Home. They are stored at the courthouse and used to decorate the plaza on holidays. A metal plate is attached to each staff is inscribed with the name of a veteran. Each flag costs $150. In the photo are Daniel McClain, left, Jonathan Steele, Zach DeHart and Cooper Ferguson.
Girl Scout Troop 40389 took part in placing flags on the graves of veterans Saturday morning. In the photo are Hannah Evans, left, Haley Poe-Jones, Baleigh Williams and troop leader Lisa Poe-Jones. This is the eighth year Haley has placed flags on graves for Memorial Day.
Cody GUTHRIE plants his American Flag in a grave Saturday.
Conner Guthrie salutes a veteran’s grave after planting his flag.
The Guthrie brothers — Conner, Eagle Scout from Troop 136; Colton, first class Scout from Troop 136; and Cody, a Wolf Cub with Pack 3136 — assisted with placement of flags on graves Saturday.
The service is sponsored each year by all of the Veterans organizations in Bradley County. Mayor Tom Rowland will again serve as master of ceremonies for this year’s event.
The Rev. Robert Seaton, pastor of First Lutheran Church, will serve as chaplain. The guest speaker will be retired U.S. Army Col. Dr. Richard L. Pace.
Chattanooga Composite Squadron 192 Civil Air Patrol, VSAF Auxiliary, will post the colors. Members of Cleveland Composite Squadron 173 Civil Air Patrol, VSAF Auxiliary, will read the names of Bradley County wartime deceased veterans. Cadet Matthew Blach will read the World War I and World War II names, Cadet Dakota Thompson will read Korea, Vietnam and Iraq Wars names. There has been a total of 164 Veterans from Bradley County killed in the Wars from World War I to Iraq.
Billie Blair, president of Aldersgate Garden Club, will pay remembrance of African-American veterans that have died this past year.
Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland will give the Last Roll Call from a list of names of Bradley County veterans who have gone to their last duty station. This is a very somber event for those family members who attend.
Cleveland High School Band members will give a drum roll and play taps after the 21 gun salute by the Bradley County Veterans Firing Squad under the command of “Pinky” Blackburn.
Pace currently serves as Ecclesiastical Endorsing Agent and Coordinator of Vocational Chaplaincy Ministries for the Church of God Chaplains Commission. He served as an Army chaplain for 28 years prior to retiring as a colonel in October 2010.
He served as pastor of Northeast Minneapolis Church of God, Minneapolis, Minn., from 1980-1982, and associate pastor of East Calhoun Church of God, Calhoun, Ga., from 1978-1980.
He attended Lee University where he received a bachelor of science degree in 1976. The following year he entered the Church of Graduate School of Christian Ministries where he earned the master of arts degree in 1978. He graduated from the Church of God Theological Seminary in 1981 with the master of divinity degree. He earned a master of science degree in strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College in 2004.
Pace holds the doctor of ministry degree awarded by Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2011.
Dr. Pace has served in numerous assignments to include two combat tours. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2002 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and to Iraq in 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Some of his previous assignments include: Command Chaplain, US Army Central (2009-2010); Director of Personnel and Ecclesiastical Relations in the Army Chief of Chaplains Office, Pentagon (2006-2009); Installation Chaplain at Carlisle Barracks, Pa. (2004-2006); Division Chaplain for the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C. (2001-2003); and Chaplain Career Manager, Pentagon (1998-2001).
He has been awarded the Legion of Merit (two awards), Bronze Star Medal (two awards); Meritorious Service Medal (two awards); Army Commendation Medal (three awards); Army Achievement Medal (six awards); the Master Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, and German Jump Wings. He was recognized as the Church of God Theological Seminary Alumnus of the Year 2007, and was named the Outstanding Doctoral Graduate from the Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2011.
Pace is married to the former Brenda Christenbury of Cleveland, Tenn. The Paces have two married sons and four grandchildren.
Lawn chairs are recommended since there will be limited seating. Also, there are no restroom facilities available. In case of inclement weather, the service will be held at VFW Post 2598 at 3370 North Ocoee Street. For more information, please call Steven Stewart at 423-476-6484 or 423-284-0070.
