Victims of Homicide Remembered During 10th Tennessee Season to Remember

Nashville – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and First Lady Crissy Haslam this evening hosted the 10th annual “Tennessee Season to Remember” event to honor victims of homicide. Gov. and Mrs. Haslam joined families from across Tennessee who placed ornaments on memorial wreaths in honor of their loved ones.

“This is a difficult time of year for the families of homicide victims. We want them to know that the citizens of Tennessee support them as they remember and pay tribute to those they miss so dearly,” Haslam said.

During the ceremony, which was held at First Baptist Church in downtown Nashville, families and friends placed commemorative ornaments on three memorial wreaths as the names of their loved ones were read aloud. The wreaths will be displayed in the Tennessee Tower state building near the State Capitol throughout the holiday season. The event is traditionally held at the State Capitol, but was moved to a different location this year due to renovations there.

“Bill and I are moved by the families who travel to Nashville to take part in this ceremony,” Mrs. Haslam said. “We are honored to be part of this state tradition and hope it brings some comfort to the families we met tonight.”

The Tennessee District Attorneys General Association, the Tennessee Chiefs of Police, and the Tennessee Sheriffs Association also placed ornaments on the wreaths in honor of the victims and the survivors they assist throughout the year.

Former First Lady Andrea Conte served as the guest speaker for the 10th annual event. Ms. Conte started “Tennessee Season to Remember” in 2002. A victim of violent crime herself, Conte is the founder and president of You Have the Power…Know How to Use It, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocacy and education for crime victims and preventative education.

Sen. Charlotte Burks of Monterey also made remarks and placed an ornament in memory of her husband, the late Sen. Tommy Burks, who was murdered in 1998.

Bob Mueller, anchor at WKRN-TV in Nashville, served as emcee. Music was provided by country recording artist Gary Morris and the choir at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Nashville.

The Tennessee Board of Parole, the Tennessee Department of Correction, the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration’s Office of Criminal Justice Programs, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Office of Attorney General and Reporter, and the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference, organized this year’s event.