Fifth Annual Memorial Day Celebration at the Opryland Hotel and Convention Center, East Nashville.

Acquanetta G. Donnell, Jr. & Erica Morrison, DI Multimedia Scholars

Despite the rising gas prices across the nation, more than 400 veterans, family and friends filled the Delta Ballroom for the opening of the annual Memorial Day weekend celebration at the Opryland Hotel.
“We usually average about 2,000-3,000 people in attendance a year,” said Penny Fowler-Smith, who works with Legacy Five entertainment group, the organizers of the event.
The program featured Col. Oliver North, who signed copies of his book, “Heroes,” and spoke on the meaning of Memorial Day.
The Voices of Lee from Lee University also entertained the audience, and Charles Stanley, a world-renowned pastor from Atlanta, offered biblical words of encouragement.
Mike Lewis, who is known as “the Jesus painter,” completed a portrait of Jesus within ten minutes to the astonishment of the audience. “I was really amazed at how fast he was able to paint such an immaculate portrait,” said Glenda Ramsey of Jackson, Tenn., a second-year participant in the celebration.
The event is set to continue for the remainder of the weekend.