Memorial on I-75 in Tennessee reaches decade mark

Memorial on I-75 in Tennessee reaches decade mark

Drivers on I-75 past Athens, Tenn., will not miss the large veterans memorial on the side of the expressway, complete with a 30-foot-by-60-foot American flag that waves 150 feet above. The memorial also has smaller flags representing each branch of service and the POW/MIA flag.

Legionnaire Dick Pelley said the memorial, created by the local Legion post a decade ago, still draws attention.

"We get comments all the time. It's absolutely beautiful," he said.

In November 2016, the post held a 10-year celebration ceremony following the week of Veterans Day.

But the memorial isn't quite finished.

Pelley said they will be adding a sign soon that reads: "American Legion Memorial: Veterans Saluting Veterans."

Pelley said Post 68 in Athens raised $160,000 to construct the memorial during its inception. The town's population is under 14,000.