10/05/2026
VETFEST POST EVENT THANK YOU:
Yesterday, there were moments to pause and take in what was happening around us at our 9th Annual VetFest & Heroes Stroll.
Veterans and military families were laughing, sharing hugs, helping one another, and finding their way to booths and resources. Organizations were making connections. People were listening to stories, sharing tears, and offering support.
The ceremony was beautifully presented by the Stones River Chapter of the Tennessee Society, Sons of the American Revolution, and Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association (CVMA) Chapter 18-15. The Stones River Chapter posted the colors, and CVMA 18-15 presented the flag-folding and POW/MIA ceremony. The ceremony also included a Quilts of Valor presentation. It was all beautifully done, and I could see how deeply it touched those who witnessed it.
That is what VetFest is about. The meaning of the day goes beyond the number of booths or attendees. It lives in the support given to a veteran-owned business or organization, the person who feels understood, the family that finds support, and the veteran whose story someone takes the time to hear.
More than 70 organizations registered this year. Although not all could attend, we are grateful to every organization that made the commitment to be part of VetFest. To everyone who joined us: thank you for your flexibility, teamwork, and willingness to adapt after Friday’s rain and Saturday’s challenging conditions. Our community came together, rain or shine, and we are so grateful.
VetLinx works throughout the year to connect veterans and military families with advocacy, resources, information, and one another. VetFest brings that mission to life. A conversation at a booth can lead to a resource, a partnership, or a lasting relationship.
One of the most meaningful parts of the day was watching people take part in the Veterans Legacy Map. One veteran shared, “Take care of your team and they will take care of you.” Another joked, “I won the lottery in 1969, a ‘free plane ride’ to Vietnam.” One person documented decades of service and placed five pins on the map.
Each pin represents a person. Each card preserves a voice. The Veterans Legacy Map will return each year, growing into a shared record of service and the stories people want future generations to remember.
VetLinx is an all-volunteer organization, and this day would not happen without the people who give their time and care. Thank you to our sponsors and support partners—Centinel Community Fund, CVMA Chapter 18-15, VVA Chapter 1140, Rolling Thunder Tennessee Chapter 1, the Young Marines, and Hugh Bennett Sound—and to our faithful core team, volunteers, and everyone who stepped in wherever help was needed.
Special thanks to Brent Adams, who emcees VetFest every year and does a phenomenal job bringing the program to life. Thank you to all the wonderful and talented artist who brought the gift of music to the stage. Thank you also to Bill Robinson for building and painting the Legacy Map frame on very short notice and bringing the military weapons display.
A special thank-you to my daughter, Bella Bowman, and her friends, Sophia Reichman and Madeline McCarthy. They devoted hours to supporting VetFest, and Bella worked for hours before and after the event. These teenagers understand the importance of being a citizen worth fighting for. Their time, compassion, and willingness to serve mean so much.
We are especially grateful to Specialized Security Consultants for providing overnight security on short notice, and to a CVMA Chapter 18-15 member who serves in law enforcement and volunteered off duty as VetFest’s security lead on event day.
To the Young Marines, our community partners, the Brentwood Police and Fire Departments, TDOT, and Bin There Dump That: we appreciate you.
No list can capture all the kindness and effort that went into this day. Please know that your time, resources, encouragement, and helping hands mattered.
Thank you for helping create a community where military families find support, veterans have a place to share their stories, and appreciation is expressed through action. These connections are why we keep doing this work—and why reducing the 22 a day matters.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Laurel Bowman
Founder & CEO, VetLinx
vetlinx.org
CVMA 18-15 Rides and Events Phil Laprad Vera PruittAndrew FarrerAndrea ForteBrent Adams
