Governor visits White County’s Freedom Celebration

White County, along with Christpoint Church, hosted their third annual Freedom Celebration, July 2, and were joined by a special guest.

Gov. Bill Lee stopped by the event early in the evening as part of his year-long tour of the state as he celebrates 225 years of statehood by visiting each community and celebrating with them.

“We are going to every county over the next year to attend events that are unique to each individual county [and] that represent the uniqueness of those communities,” Lee explained, adding that it was on June 1, 1796, when President George Washington signed a proclamation making Tennessee the 16th state in the union.

Lee went on to explain that the theme of the yearlong celebration is “Untold Tennesseans” and that there is a website, tennessee225.com, that Tennesseans can use to submit their unique and untold stories from their community.

“Tennessee is great because of a lot of historical figures, but it has really become the greatest state in the nation because of the untold stories of regular everyday people that make this state what it is,” Lee said, saying that he is looking for both historical and current-day stories that he claims make up the fabric of what makes Tennessee unique.

Lee claimed that uniqueness is drawing people to the state of Tennessee from all over the country.

“A lot of different people from a lot of different parts of the country, more so than ever right now, are coming to Tennessee. They have seen the uniqueness of this place, they love the state: the business-friendly environment, the family friendly environment, the principles and values that we uphold here,” he said, saying that companies and what he called ‘economic activity’ are also relocating to the state. “We are very fortunate. Companies from around the world have discovered that Tennessee is a great place to do business.”

The relocation of businesses, companies, and even families are creating opportunities and jobs for Tennesseans, and Lee said he is grateful and hopeful for all of the opportunities that lie ahead for the state and its residents.

While he was visiting, Gov. Lee took time to walk among the exhibits and vendors and experience White County’s Freedom Celebration.

“This is Americana at its finest right here. This is exactly how we do it in America and exactly how we do it in Tennessee,” he said. “We bring together people in our community. We have fun together. We fellowship together. And we recognize and stop and acknowledge the freedom and the liberty that is unique to America and to Americans.”

“Thank goodness that we are able to come back together and gather together again and be together as a community,” he continued, acknowledging that the past year had been both long and difficult for Tennesseans. “A lot of people went through a lot of hardship. Yet, I’m a believer that God is a redeemer; He takes the hardest days of our lives, and, if we let Him, he makes those days transformational. Our nation has come through a long hard year. And our state has. The people even in this community have had hardships that they haven’t had before, but we have great resolve, and the people of this community are showing that.”

The governor expressed his gratitude and enthusiasm for the direction that the state is headed.

“It’s just great to be out once again – wide open, state’s open, businesses are open, communities are gathering again, and this is a great example of it,” he said while looking around at all of the activities available at White County’s Freedom Celebration.    Tennessee in the greatest state in the nation.”

in the greatest state in the nation.”