The Tennessee National Guard held a ceremony at the Tennessee State Capitol on November 2 to commemorate the 229th birthday of former President James K. Polk. Born on November 2, 1795, in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Polk was the 11th President of the United States and the 9th Governor of Tennessee. His contributions to Tennessee included serving in the Tennessee Militia, the Tennessee State Legislature, and as a U.S. Congressman before becoming President from 1845 to 1849.
In a tradition honoring past presidents, a representative of the sitting president places a wreath on their tomb on their birthdate. Brig. Gen. John Kinton, Director of the Tennessee National Guard’s Joint Staff, represented President Joe Biden at the event. Kinton expressed his honor in representing the president and commemorating Polk’s contributions to both Tennessee and the nation.
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During the ceremony, Kinton and Rachel Helvering, President of the President James K. Polk Home and Museum, laid a wreath on Polk’s tomb. Kinton highlighted Polk’s impact, noting his role in the Mexican-American War and how his call for volunteers led to Tennessee earning its nickname as the Volunteer State.
The ceremony also featured Lt. Col. Paul Gunn of Nashville’s 118th Wing Chaplain delivering the invocation. Music was provided by Sgt. Jeremy Bryant from the 129th Army Band, who played Taps, and Soldiers from the Tennessee National Guard’s Joint Forces Headquarters served as honor guards.
Polk’s final resting place is located on the east lawn of the Capitol, among other memorials dedicated to Tennessee’s prominent political figures.
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