Adrian LeMaire of the Jellico Honor Guard participated in the Patriot’s Day Ceremony held on Thursday at the Wynn Elementary School. The Jellico Honor Guard is led by retired Air Force Veteran Kevin Walden.

By Charlotte Underwood

HABERSHAM, TN (WLAF)- Patriot Day was recognized by multiple first responders, law enforcement and the Jellico Honor Guard in a special ceremony held at Wynn Habersham Elementary School on Thursday.

LaFollette Fire Department fire fighters participate in Thursday’s event at Wynn Elementary School.

Across the nation, step walks and stair climbs are hosted to honor first responders who gave their lives to help others on 9-11, by climbing 110 stories – the equivalent of the highest point of the World Trade Center.

LaFollette Police Lieutenant Shane Tielman, Campbell County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Cody Chapman and LaFollette Police Narcotic Detective Noah Riggs participated in Thursday’s Patriot Day ceremony held at the Wynn Habersham Elementary School honoring first responders who lost their lives in 9-11.

The White Oak Volunteer Fire Department marked the 24th anniversary of 9-11 by hosting a Step Walk/Stair Climb on September 11th at the Wynn Habersham School in honor of the 343 fire fighters, 71 law enforcement, eight paramedics, and 55 military personnel that lost their lives that day. During the event, a bell rang out for each of those individuals.

White Oak Volunteer Fire Department held a Patriot’s Day Stair Climb at Wynn Elementary School on Thursday in honor of 9-11. Representatives from Ridgewood Fire Department, LaFollette Fire Department, LaFollette Police Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Campbell County Mayor’s Office, the Jellico Honor Guard, the Campbell County Sheriff’s Department, and Campbell County 911 participated.

The event was open to first responders in the community who turned out in number to support the event. Representatives from Ridgewood Fire Department, LaFollette Fire Department, LaFollette Police Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Campbell County Mayor’s Office, the Jellico Honor Guard, the Campbell County Sheriff’s Department, and Campbell County 911 participated.

The Jellico Honor Guard is led by retired Air Force Veteran Kevin Walden.

White Oak Volunteer Fire Department Captain James Williford, who helped organize the event, said this was something that had been on his heart to do an event like this for a number of years.

Ridgewood Fire Fighter Malcolm Burchfield participated in the 9-11 Patriot’s Day event honoring first responders, held at the Wynn Habersham Elementary School on Thursday.

Students at the school got to watch from the gym floor, while the Jellico Honor Guard presented the colors, and the flags of the branches of the Unites States Military. Jellico Honor Guard Commander Kevin Walden sang the National Anthem as well, as speaking about the importance of remembering Patriot Day and what it stood for.

White Oak Volunteer Fire Department Capt. James Williford handing out flags to students at the Patriot’s Day ceremony held at Wynn Elementary School on Thursday.

“On Patriot’s Day, we salute all of our first responders and our military today; it is to honor those who risk their lives for us in our community,” Walden said.

The Jellico Honor Guard is led by retired Air Force Veteran Kevin Walden.

The kids also got to watch first responders climbing the bleacher stairs in recognition of the number of steps first emergency personnel had to climb in the Twin Towers in evacuation and rescue efforts.

Commander of the Jellico Honor Guard Kevin Walden sang a heartfelt National Anthem at Thursday’s Patriot Day event at Wynn Elementary.

“We just want to do something in honor of the first responders that gave their lives, it’s something that’s been on my heart to do for a long time and I hope to start having the event each year,” Williford said. (WLAF NEWS P UBLISHED-09/12/2025-6AM)

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