Voting and paying tribute to our nation’s active and retired =rmed services personnel are two of the most patriotic acts citizens can perform. A new =rogram launched by the Secretary of State’s Office this week allows =eople to tie the two together. Secretary of State Tre Hargett announced the “Tennessee Honor =ote” program, which will provide citizens with an opportunity to dedicate their votes =n the upcoming election to the servicemen and servicewomen of their =hoice.
A new page has been developed on the Secretary of State’s web =ite where people may sign up and dedicate a personal message to one or more active =r retired members of the armed forces.
Once the messages have been reviewed, they will be posted online. =ach participant in the program will receive an “Honor Vote” =utton and a letter of appreciation from Secretary Hargett.
The program will begin with dedications for the upcoming Nov. 6 =lection, but it will continue for future elections as well.
“Members of our armed services fight and sometimes make =he ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms,” Secretary Hargett said. =E2��Their service highlights how important it is for us to exercise our constitutional =ight to vote. I encourage Tennesseans to participate in this program, which is absolutely free of charge. It only takes a few minutes to sign up and =repare a message. And those messages to our active military and veterans may mean =ore to them than we’ll ever realize.”
“More than 27,000 members of the Tennessee National Guard =ave deployed since 9/11, making Tennessee the fourth largest National Guard state for =eployments,” Major General Max Haston, Tennessee’s Adjutant General, =aid. “Many of these soldiers and airmen have seen firsthand in Iraq and Afghanistan =ust how important the right to cast your vote really is. This is a right we =oo often take for granted. Nothing means more to a service member than =o be appreciated for their selfless service. The Tennessee Honor Vote =rogram is just another way to show your support for the men and women defending =he freedoms that we all enjoy.”
“It is extremely important to remember and recognize those =ho have courageously served our state and country, for without their selfless =ervice, we may not be able to hold elections with the democratic right to =ote,” Tennessee Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Many-Bears Grinder =said. “This is an innovative and unique way to reinforce =he importance of voting as well as reminding our service members and veterans that we =alue and support their service and sacrifice.”
To participate in the program, go to: www.GoVoteTN.com/honor or call toll-free 1-877-850-4959.
