2021 Memorial Day Events – Chattanooga, TN

Press Release

RE: Fallen 5 Memorial Opening for Memorial Weekend, and Additional

Events“In honor of Memorial Day Weekend, this coming Friday, May 28th thru Monday, May 31st the Wreath of Honor Fallen Five Memorial will be accessible for visitation. 

Designated Parking for access to the memorial will be in the Boat Ramp area and the parking lot closest to the memorial.

All other Riverpark and Riverwalk areas currently closed due to vaccine distribution will remain closed including the Hubert Fry Center, Hubert Fry Playground, and surrounding area.

For Questions, Please Contact Tennessee Riverpark at 423-209-5370

Source: https://parks.hamiltontn.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=194

Additional Events:

The Chattanooga Area Veterans Council (CAVC) will host a Memorial Day Service on 31 May 2021, 11:00 am, at the National Guard Armory on Holtzclaw Ave. This event is open to the public and no RSVP is needed.

The Fallen 5 Drive founder Joshua Kapellusch, will host a sunrise moment of silence gathering at the Chattanooga National Cemetery at the top of the hill around the American flag to pay respects. Everyone is welcome and musicians capable of playing taps are encouraged to attend. Please be in place by 6:30 am as we embrace our freedom to watch the sunrise once again. A short speech will follow. Contact 423.414.8233 for additional details or visit fallen5drive.org for more information.

Listed below are the known sites in Chattanooga dedicated to the Fallen 5. Please pay your respects in person or prayer. Thank you.

Fallen 5 Memorial, Tennessee River Park – 4301 Amnicola Hwy, Chattanooga, TN 37402

Armed Forces Recruiting Center – 6219 Lee Hwy, Chattanooga, TN 37421

Veterans Bridge, between Georgia and Barton Ave. Chattanooga, TN

Sculpture Fields at Montague Park – 1800 Polk St, Chattanooga, TN 37408

Chattanooga National Cemetery – 1200 Bailey Ave, Chattanooga, TN 37404

Ross’s Landing – 201 Riverfront Pkwy, Chattanooga, TN 37402

Day 5. Orem, Utah to Bonneville Salt Flats to San Francisco, CA. 774 miles

Once Mack and I got everything put away and ready for the day I went into Ready Gunner and just fell in love! I walked in and saw guns, a shooting range, and coffee… I’m not sure if I cried or not, probably had some lip quivering and watery eyes, but I felt so at home and American. I hung out and talked about guns and coffee for about 1 hour. This was so wonderful! We need more coffee / gun stores!

After having my first cup of Black Rifle Coffee Company coffee I knew this company was the real deal. I never support companies unless I believe in them. This company is amazing and has American values and ideals at the forefront of every action. I can always find ways to support these kinds of companies compared to the huge, main-stream anti-American companies operating all over this country.

Upon leaving Ready Gunner I set out to visit Black Rifle Coffee Company in Salt Lake City, UT. They are affiliated and work together as some of the owners are part of both companies. This combination of patriotism and quality products / services is top notch and should be looked at as way to do business in America moving forward. They have unity, a mission, and a purpose people can believe in as I do.

I met Jeff Kirkham and he graciously gave me a tour of the facility and several goodies! Everything at Black Rifle Coffee Company is done in-house and their coffee experts travel the world for the best coffee beans possible. They are such a great group of people creating the best coffee and camaraderie despite all the madness out in the world today. These people give me hope. They also gave me a ton of coffee! Throughout the trip I would be giving these bags away to special people as token of appreciation.

After my stop in Salt Lake City I needed to get on the road again making mileage. I mapped out the route which would take me to Interstate 80 heading west to San Francisco. This was the last day of the trip so I had to make it to the bridge. I had enough coffee at this point to stay up for 2 days!

Little did I know that I would be passing by BONNEVILLE! The Bonneville salt flats is where land speed records are set for vehicles. The salt is flat, long, and provides a perfect racing surface for race at high speeds. I just had to stop in and experience it myself! We turned and in just a few miles the Blazer of Glory was setting a new world speed record for the 5 fueled truck at a whopping 35 miles per hour. There was no sense in blasting the salt for speed since the blazer is computer controlled to 96 mph and the salt would eat away at the blazer anyway. Maybe next year I’ll prepare for speed week to see what we can stir up!

We drove all day and made our fuel stops as needed. The Rocky Mountains provide so much to look at. It was hot, dry, and largely uneventful. My next goal was to wake up and see the Golden Gate Bridge on the day we were to fly the flag. With the GPS set to San Francisco we pressed on and on. Finally at 11:58 pm we saw the bridge! After finding a parking spot right on the ocean, I shut the motor off and was calmed by the waves of the ocean. San Francisco is a cold, and windy city. Being right on the ocean with a cold Pacific breeze at night is something special. The fog was heavy and the bridge had a slightly cold and eerie presence with its yellow lights and red paint. The last thing to do was wake up the next day, walk the folded American flag to the center of the bridge, unfold it, and let it freely fly for the Fallen 5.

Thank you to our sponsors and contributors for making this mission possible!

Mtn View Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Ringgold, GA

Grace Frank Group in Chattanooga, TN

Off-Grid Living & Design – Tiny Homes in Wildwood, GA

Joshua Kapellusch

Day 5, 2018