Veterans cemetery earns a salute for excellence, and a visit by the governor

Gov. Bill Lee visited the East Tennessee Veterans Cemetery off John Sevier Highway on Nov. 29 to honor the staff for its recent Operational Excellence Award from the Veterans Administration and National Cemetery Administration.

Both veterans’ cemeteries in Knoxville, received the award, the result of an outstanding performance during the triennial compliance review conducted in March 2023.

The governor, accompanied by Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives Cameron Sexton, was greeted upon his arrival by the East Tennessee Veterans Honor Guard and veterans from each branch of the military.

Lee started off by recognizing the members of the Tennessee Veterans Honor Guard: “Thank you all for volunteering and doing what you do. You have helped create a satisfaction level so that our cemetery here is rewarded nationally. But more importantly, it has served to bring appropriate honor, and that’s a great service to Tennessee.”

The staff and groundskeepers of both the John Sevier and Lyons View veterans cemeteries were also recognized for their work in maintaining the facilities. The award came after rigorous inspections, ensuring that every detail, from headstone dimensions to cleanliness and the services provided, met the highest standards.

Major Gen. Tommy H. Baker, the commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Veteran Services (TDVS), highlighted the significant progress made in the last two budget cycles, allowing the veterans cemetery facilities to hire eight new employees. “This expansion was a testament to the state's commitment to maintaining the grounds of these facilities across Tennessee.” Baker emphasized the three core initiatives of the TDVS: to advocate, inform, and inspire.

Lee, in his speech to the staff and veterans, drew on his personal experiences and spoke about his time working at Lee Co. “Pulling up here today was a great reminder to me of my time working in plumbing, heating, and cooling where I consistently reminded our employees that their work transcended mere job duties; it had a profound impact on people's lives. In those instances, sometimes lives depended on the services provided.

“You as a staff here are providing a service greater than just your duties. Your work is important, and it honors the sacrifices made by veterans that afforded us the freedoms we all enjoy. Your work transcends your normal job duties.”

The ceremony also introduced the governor to Ashley Manning, an administrative assistant for veterans services, who received The Governor’s Excellence in Service Awards earlier in the year. Manning is a Navy veteran with six years of service before moving to Knoxville.

Kevin Knowles, the cemetery director, expressed pride in the fact that Tennessee is the only state with multiple veterans’ cemeteries that have received the Operational Excellence award. He conveyed hope that their Memphis location would undergo the same inspections, securing the award in the future.

“This really is a collaborative effort among the support staff at each cemetery, and I want to thank Gov. Lee and Speaker Sexton for stopping by today and showing their support and appreciation to our staff for all the hard work they day each day,” Knowles said.

The governor's and speaker's visit to the East Tennessee Veterans Cemetery was preceded by a tour of the Emerald Academy of Knoxville, where they briefly spoke to some media about Lee's proposal to expand Tennessee's school voucher program.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee governor visits Veterans Cemetery after excellence award