Nashville, Tenn. (June 14, 2012) — Visitors to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District day use areas expressed their appreciation for free admission today, the Army’s 237th birthday.
Normal fees at 22 day use areas were waived today by Lt. Col. James A. DeLapp, Nashville District commander, in celebration of the U.S. Army’s rich heritage of defending our Nation and its citizens and to recognize local communities’ steadfast support of soldiers and their families.
“This is really great--coming to a beautiful, clean, uncrowded beach on a hot summer day is always a treat and our free admission is an added bonus,” said Michael Stanley who was enjoying the water, sun and sand at the J. Percy Priest Lake Cook Recreation Area with a party of four. “Happy 237th Birthday to our Army!” he added.
Stanley, who had served in the Illinois and Michigan Army National Guard, was visiting friends in the Nashville area while traveling from Virginia to Florida.
“I suffered sticker shock when told the admission fee for four of us at one commercial beach in this area, and I would not use another free beach due to its lack of maintenance,” he said. “Paying Cook’s normal $4 day use fee would have been a pleasure.”
Another group of 10 ladies and children, local and from out-of-town, also expressed their appreciation for being able to use the Cook Recreation Area beach at no cost today.
Responses were similar from visitors at the Old Hickory Beach, Old Hickory, Tenn., and other Nashville District recreational facilities stretching 430 river miles from Lake Cumberland in eastern Ky., to Lake Barkley in western Tennessee and Kentucky.
Also in celebration of the Army birthday, a contingent of Nashville District personnel attended the Nashville Sounds Triple A baseball game against the Omaha Storm Chasers at Greer Stadium. Maj. Patrick Dagon, deputy commander, threw out the first pitch in honor of the Army’s 237th birthday. The video of the major delivering the pitch is available on the Nashville District’s YouTube channel at http://youtu.be/bxmNSnMepJQ.
The public can obtain news, updates and information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District on the district’s website at www.lrn.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nashvillecorps and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/nashvillecorps.