Grid Square Recon

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Grid Square Recon

Grid squares are used as a navigational reference. They’re the start to identify each point on the map. Grid Square Recon is here to help.
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When we travel to a new grid square, one of the first things we do is recon the area.

09/06/2024

30 days, 30 voices, 1 mission. Day 6: Mayor Wes Golden.

Please share. We never know who may need a message like this today.

Tennessee Department of Veterans Services VET SOS Podcast

09/05/2024

30 days, 30 voices, 1 mission. Day 5: LTC John C. Rigdon!

Please share. We never know who may need a message like this today.

Tennessee National Guard Tennessee Department of Veterans Services

09/05/2024

30 days, 30 voices, 1 mission. Day 4: Shawn Welsh!

Please share. We never know who may need a message like this today.

VET SOS Podcast

09/03/2024

30 days, 30 voices, 1 mission. Day 3: John Kerkhof! Please share. We never know who may need a message like this today. FRAGO 22 LLC VET SOS Podcast Chris Lancia

09/02/2024

30 days, 30 voices, 1 mission. Day 1: Adam Peters.

Please share. You never know who may need this message today.

QRFup

09/01/2024

30 days, 30 voices, 1 mission: day 1. Jacob Mousseau Wounded Woodworkers

08/05/2024

We visited Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest yesterday to see the FOREST GIANTS!!! It’s about a 2-mile walking loop to see all 3 of them, and it’s a well-maintained, stroller-friendly walk. It’s a 2 hour and 30 minute drive from Fort Campbell and a 30-minute drive from Fort Knox.

Have you been? Share your thoughts and pics in the comments!

From the park’s website: “In conjunction with our 90th anniversary in 2019, Bernheim welcomed Danish artist, Thomas Dambo, to construct three giant sculptures throughout the arboretum using recycled wood from the region. We are thrilled to welcome Mama Loumari with her children, Little Nis and Little Elina, and her third baby Giant, who is currently living in Mama’s belly.”

Here’s your grid: 16S FG 17965 97598

05/27/2024

Repeat after me: Staff Sergeant Johnnie V. Mason.

Say his name today. Or that of another service member who gave their life in service to our nation.

Then celebrate.

Celebrate the freedom we have. Celebrate the family and friends we love. Celebrate a day earned through sacrifice of others.

Celebrate that such citizens lived and were willing to give their lives for our freedom.

They died so we could live.

Today we honor them in two ways.

We say their names.

And live the life they earned for us.

If you have a chance, ask a Gold Star family member about their loved one.

Ask how they lived, not how they died.

Here’s a bit about Johnnie.

Johnnie gave his life on 19 December 2005. Johnnie was an Explosive Ordnance Device technician (he disarmed bombs). While his team was disarming a device, their scans identified a second device near their vehicle. Johnnie moved his team to safety, then moved to safe the second device. It detonated while he was working on it, killing him. His actions saved at least five Soldiers that day. His sacrifice let five other families have their heroes come home.

Johnnie was a proud husband to Brook and father to Ashley and Adam He volunteered with local law enforcement agencies, knowing they were short on the skills he possessed. Johnnie was also one of those guys who never met a stranger, so his loss hit a wide range of people.

Johnnie was a prankster, so much so that his team’s call sign was ‘Jokers’. He loved to eat. He loved to laugh. He was kind, gentle, and had an infectious smile to which you couldn’t help but reply in kind.

Before learning to disarm bombs, Johnnie was a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crew chief. We pushed Johnnie hard while he progressed as a crew chief. No matter how much we laid on him, he never complained or pushed back. He just worked. Johnnie was my ‘spoda’ on a deployment. He was spoda clean the windows, spoda take the fuel sample...you get it. He was in on our pranks, which were aplenty in a building filled with young warriors looking to burn off stress. And he took the pranks just as well as he gave them (which is more than can be said for many of us, who could get a little cranky).

I never imagined Johnnie would go on to be an EOD tech. I honestly didn’t think he had the desire, but have zero doubt he had the work ethic. And it pains me to say I had lost touch and didn’t even know that’s what he was doing until I saw his name in a casualty report.

Each loss of a brother- or sister-in-arms is different. Some hit harder then others, but all affect us in some way. We internalize their memories. We lose a little piece of who we are. We wonder what they’d be doing now, what impact people of such caliber that they’d risk their life for others would have on the world around us. How much different the world would be with such people still in it.

And we wonder what they’d think of us. Would they be proud of how we lived in their absence? Would we have made different decisions knowing they’d call us on our BS? Have we paid for their sacrifice by living a life worthy of such a cost?

The bottom line is we’ll never know. All we can do is live every day to the best of our abilities, leveraging our talents to make the world a better place. And knowing all along the loved ones we’ve lost would be right by our side...or maybe a step behind watching our back to ensure our safety.

We think of you every day, Johnnie, as well as those who occupy Valhalla with you. We’ll never forget, and I hope one day to see that goofy smile again.

05/25/2024

“Peace and freedom—are there two better objects for which a soldier can fight?” Pres. Theodore Roosevelt on Memorial Day in 1902

04/07/2024

Sunday on Strawberry Season Opener! is going on right now! And that means first Sundays in Clarksville just got way more fun! With everything from bread to vegetables to flowers to candles to coffee to boba tea to custom shirts and so much more, this is a ‘must attend’ event!

It happens along Strawberry Alley in downtown Clarksville from 10 am to 2 pm on the first Sunday of each month. You can find more details on the Sunday on Strawberry page!

Here’s your grid: 16S DF 67809 42582

Visit Clarksville TN

03/19/2024

“I’m thriving because this community, people like you, are my safety net.”

With those words, Col. (Ret.) Gregory Dmitri Gadson drove home the importance of the type of community support Operation Stand Down Tennessee provides to veterans and military families in Tennessee.

Gadson was the keynote speaker at the 9th Annual Clarksville Heroes Breakfast, and shared a message of resiliency created through the support of others.

The ability to persevere through a challenge does not come because we’re ‘tough’.

It comes through a network that lifts us up when we’re in a tough spot.

And keeps us from walking that path alone.

“Not all of us make it home. Some of us are still struggling to make it home,” said Gadson. “And all of us have an obligation to never give up.”

If you don’t know Gadson’s story, he’s a double above the knee amputee as the result of an improvised explosive device attack in Iraq in 2007.

He refused to quit, rising to the rank of Colonel and serving as the garrison commander at Fort Belvoir, Va.

He’s also a proud husband, father, and grandfather who understands the power of each moment…having lived through not knowing if he’d had his last moments with his family.

He’s written books, is called upon often as a speaker, and even has some Hollywood credits to his name.

Through it all, his message remains humble and with one theme: he has a platform he can use to remind those who are struggling they’re not alone and those who can support them that we have a chance to leave a mark through lifting someone else up.

“We each have a chance to have an impact. What we leave is what lasts,” Gadson commented. “It’s what lives beyond us.”

I wasn’t able to capture a picture of each of the people in the room who have helped lift this community in our time here, but the faces here are indicative of a network that spans far and wide and will dig deep to help someone in need.

If you can, drop OSDTN a couple of bucks and help. I guarantee those funds will make the impact you want. (Link in comments)

Thanks to OSDTN and the City of Clarksville for another inspiring event!

Eden Murrie | Dan Moore | Matt Van Epps | Curtis Worthy | Sarah Lancia

03/02/2024

is featured in the Veteran Art Exhibition at the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center set up by Montgomery County Veterans Coalition! Please go check out the museum (which has a bunch of other really cool exhibits as well) and support local art!

Shout out to River City Clay for its support of local potters!

Sarah Lancia

02/25/2024

PumphreyandBeard Sunday mornings is a habit we’re happy to support. Great coffee, delicious breakfast options, amazing and friendly staff, and live music. Plus the beauty of Visit Downtown Dickson to cap it off!

Here’s your grid: 16S DE 65064 92530

02/18/2024

If you’re in Clarksville and don’t know about Nicoletta's Catering, you’re missing out. They do takeaway orders that come ready to reheat and eat, perfect for someone on the go (you just swing by the shop on your assigned day and pick up your order!). And you’re supporting local small business! Plus, they’ve got a wonderful sense of humor as seen in the attached image.

The weekly menu opens at 9 am each Sunday, and some stuff goes FAST so don’t delay: https://www.opendining.net/menu/5ab65bc8505ee94b3bcddfc3

Visit Clarksville TN

02/17/2024

Veteran-owned and family-run, Founding Frothers Coffee understands the power of making folks feel welcomed. When you walk in, you’re greeted warmly, offered an explanation of the menu, and encouraged to pick up one of the dozens of books in the shop to spend time reading while you enjoy your coffee.

The shop also offers little tidbits of Founding Father history to put a smile on your face and a wee bit of knowledge in your noggin.

Swing by and say hi if you’re in Clarksville!

Visit Clarksville TN

02/15/2024

The small town of Charlotte is just an hour from Fort Campbell, and situated amongst beautiful back roads with farms and forests. One of the coolest places in Charlotte is Cafe Gilly, whose mission is to provide a safe, welcoming, and inclusive for employees, community members, and customers while increasing awareness of the potential of individuals with disabilities in the workforce.

Great coffee, great pastries and breakfast, and a wonderful and needed mission of doing good in the world.

Grab a cup of coffee, check out the beautiful town square, and explore the rest of Charlotte as well!

02/14/2024

Empty Bowls Clarksville is back again! 13 dining locations from which to choose. Help top the $21,850 the event raised in 2023 for Loaves And Fishes and Clarksville Urban Ministries!

River City Clay Visit Clarksville TN

02/13/2024

Hey, everyone! We’re Sarah and Chris, and we’d like to welcome you to Grid Square Recon! Over our 26 years of military service, our family lived in 12 places. Those frequent moves meant we had shallow roots everywhere we went, and that’s a common theme for military families.

To help create a sense of belonging and foster an opportunity for military families to thrive where we live and work, we’re harnessing our love of adventure and storytelling to highlight the areas around military installations and bring together communities.

Since we live in Clarksville, TN, we’re establishing our first Recon in the area surrounding Fort Campbell. In the coming months, we’ll be highlighting the incredible people, places, and businesses that make this area (in both TN and KY) so special.

Sarah is an artist with a unique eye and a steady hand on the pottery wheel, and she’s a veteran with an amazing graphic design portfolio.

Chris is a reformed journalist and Army public affairs guy with a penchant for spinning a tale and an endless supply of movie quotes and pop culture references.

We hope to keep you smiling and exploring the community alongside us!

Have an idea for a feature? Want us to feature you or your business? Want us to consider your installation for our next Recon? Slide into our DMs and let’s talk!

Thanks for your support! Now let’s kick the tires and light the fires!

01/07/2024

Creativity is what you make it. Including stacking tires in a pattern like this display found at Bill’s Tire Services in Dickson, TN. How do you express yours?

Grid Square Recon

01/07/2024

Yesterday, Heather Kelly and I had the pleasure of discussing techniques to build positive communities at the Student Veterans of America .

A community is defined as a unified body of individuals.

It could be a place you live.

It could be a group with shared interests or experiences.

It could even be the group sitting in a room learning and growing with us.

One of our discussion points regarded the importance of personal well-being to sustain the collective well-being of the community.

Spock once said, “the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few…or the one.” (That’s right, I’m a sci-fi nerd quoting Star Trek in a LinkedIn post!)

While he wasn’t wrong, he also wasn’t right.

Yes, we need community standards, values, and an ability to find common ground to facilitate collective well-being.

Just not at the expense of our personal well-being.

If we’re part of a community that helps us find our base psychological and physical needs, we’re able to bring the full measure of our talent to benefit the community as a whole.

So how do you help build community through ensuring personal well-being?

We believe you start by focusing on three things: self-determination (providing the opportunity for members to pursue personal goals), caring and compassion (care is expressed by leaders about the well-being of members), and health (consideration of members’ physical and emotional health).

Discussion time!

Was Spock right or wrong?

Have you seen community built through a focus on personal well-being? How was it done?

Looking forward to growing together!

Travis Manion Foundation

01/06/2024

“Community is not passive. Community is active. It’s how we show up for each other.” - Lisa Hallett

We started the last day of the Student Veterans of America with the power of community, reflection, and simply being present for each other.

The wear blue: run to remember circle of remembrance and blue mile are indescribable.

If there’s one close to you or at an event you attend, go.

It’s a solid start to the day to get the blood flowing and be reminded who we serve and why.

11/19/2023

Anybody got a peanut? If so, we found the World’s. Largest. Peanut! in Ashburn, GA!

And Sarah added a lil pop culture reference for ya!

11/19/2023

The Lowndes County Courthouse is the 4th one on this site since the county seat was moved to Valdosta, Ga., in 1859 (and the seventh in the history of the county).

Moody Air Force Base is just a 20-minute drive away!

It’s a Neoclassical Revival style, designed by architect Frank P. Milburn and built in 1905.

A sign of the era when it was built: the Valdosta Times published an article asking for horses to be tied to racks in a way to stay off the sidewalks so that ladies didn’t have to walk in the middle of the street!

The courthouse was built of gray granite, pressed brick, and metal domes. The interior marble came from Georgia marble quarries in Pickens County. The interior wood work was pine and oak.

The courthouse has been renovated several times over the years, perhaps most notably with the addition of air conditioning in 1957.

It’s getting all set up for Christmas lighting and is worth a drive by if you’re passing through the area!

Visit Valdosta

11/04/2023

The new mural in Clarksville, TN, located at the corner of Commerce and Spring is 🔥! It’s by and will be dedicated at 1 pm on 7 November.

Great work by the Clarksville Arts and Heritage Council to bring this to life! Go check it out!

Visit Clarksville TN

09/19/2023

Beauty emerging from the fog on a chilly Clarksville, TN, morning.

Visit Clarksville TN

09/05/2023

Meriwether Lewis. Leader of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. First governor of the Louisiana Territory. Helped put down the Whiskey Rebellion. Secretary to President Thomas Jefferson.

Died Oct. 11, 1809. No autopsy was performed until 40 years later.

Su***de? Murder? What do you think?

Your grid to his burial site and monument: 16S DE 58241 29831

09/04/2023

Minnie Pearl once said, “take the back roads instead of the highways.”

So we did…and “HOW-dee” (that’s the catchphrase she made famous over her 50-year career) was it cool to find this incredible chicken wire sculpture of her in Centerville, TN!

Local artist Ricky Pittman created it, and it now sits on top of a boulder at the Centerville Bluff Garden.

Located at the intersection of TN-100 and Old State Route 48, it’s well worth stopping to smell the roses…there’s a garden of Minnie Pearl roses (which is an actual genre of rose that was created in 1982 in her honor)!

Here’s your grid: 16S DE 58678 60222

09/03/2023

For decades, sci-fi fans have sought the physical location of Dr. Who’s TARDIS. We found it just off TN-240 in Summertown, TN!

While we know WHERE it is, we can’t assure you WHEN it is! So go check it out, post your pics, and share your adventure with us!

And let us know if you’ve found the TARDIS on a mission somewhere else!

Here’s your grid: 16S DE 71443 21192

Tennessee Tardis

08/21/2023

As you pass through Eagleville, TN, along US-41A, you may suddenly notice small planes and gliders soaring around…welcome to Eagleville Soaring Club and its beautiful grass airstrip!

The club started operations in the 1950s when Garland Pack purchased a few surplus Army TG-3 gliders for $15 each and started operating out of this field.

Today, the club offers lessons and glider rides, helping a new generation of pilots find their way and allowing anyone to experience the beauty of soaring through the air and taking in the landscape below.

Swing by and check them out!

Visit Rutherford TN

08/16/2023

On a recent trip, we happened to journey through Kingston Springs, TN, where we found some hidden beauty like this carved pole at the South Cheatham County Public Library!

Carved by Lundy Cupp and installed in August 2022, the pole is specifically themed for the library…which is in a repurposed log cabin! The pole also sits next to an old fire call box and siren, complete with the alarm at the top of the pole.

Cupp also carved the Old Man carving that sits at the corner of N. Main Street and Moores Circle.

If you visit, hit up Turnbull Provisions for some local art and great food!

Kingston Springs, Tennessee

Address

Clarksville, TN
37043

Website

http://www.gridsquarerecon.com/

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Videos

“I Will Listen…” Day 6

30 days, 30 voices, 1 mission. Day 6: Mayor Wes Golden. Please share. We never know who may need a message like this today. #IWillListen #IGY6 #FaceTheFight #gridsquarerecon Tennessee Department of Veterans Services VET SOS Podcast

“I Will Listen…” day 5

30 days, 30 voices, 1 mission. Day 5: LTC John C. Rigdon! Please share. We never know who may need a message like this today. #IWillListen #IGY6 #FaceTheFight #gridsquarerecon Tennessee National Guard Tennessee Department of Veterans Services

“I Will Listen…” day 4

30 days, 30 voices, 1 mission. Day 4: Shawn Welsh! Please share. We never know who may need a message like this today. #IWillListen #IGY6 #FaceTheFight #gridsquarerecon VET SOS Podcast

“I Will Listen…” Day 3

30 days, 30 voices, 1 mission. Day 3: John Kerkhof! Please share. We never know who may need a message like this today. FRAGO 22 LLC #IWillListen #IGY6 #FaceTheFight #gridsquarerecon VET SOS Podcast Chris Lancia

“I Will Listen…” Day 2

30 days, 30 voices, 1 mission. Day 1: Adam Peters. Please share. You never know who may need this message today. QRFup #IWillListen #IGY6 #FaceTheFight #gridsquarerecon

30 days, 30 voices, 1 mission: day 1.

30 days, 30 voices, 1 mission: day 1. Jacob Mousseau Wounded Woodworkers #IWillListen #IGY6 #FaceTheFight

Sunday on Strawberry Season Opener! is going on right now! And that means first Sundays in Clarksville just got way more fun! With everything from bread to vegetables to flowers to candles to coffee to boba tea to custom shirts and so much more, this is a ‘must attend’ event! It happens along Strawberry Alley in downtown Clarksville from 10 am to 2 pm on the first Sunday of each month. You can find more details on the Sunday on Strawberry page! Here’s your grid: 16S DF 67809 42582 Visit Clarksville TN

Anybody got a peanut? If so, we found the World’s. Largest. Peanut! in Ashburn, GA! And Sarah added a lil pop culture reference for ya! #gridsquarerecon #peanut #anybodygottapeanut #worldslargestpeanut

Meriwether Lewis. Leader of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. First governor of the Louisiana Territory. Helped put down the Whiskey Rebellion. Secretary to President Thomas Jefferson. Died Oct. 11, 1809. No autopsy was performed until 40 years later. Suicide? Murder? What do you think? Your grid to his burial site and monument: 16S DE 58241 29831 #gridsquarerecon #adobeexpressambassadors

Kentucky and Missouri are the only two border states without a road connection. The Dorena-Hickman Ferry provides a crossing to address that. While we didn’t have the adventures Huck Finn did, it was amazing to float the river and imagine generations of river pilots and adventurers who floated the same waters over the years. Your grids: 16S CF 02054 49212 (the Kentucky side) and 16S CF 01927 51278 (the Missouri side). #dorenahickmanferry #mississippiriver #visitkentucky#ferryboat

Last weekend The Walls Art Park conducted one of its ‘Paint Jams’, which happen 3 times a year. It was amazing to interact with artists as they created, collaborated, and inspired. They come from across the nation to showcase graffiti art and help change the way it’s viewed. This is definitely worth the drive to check out some amazing art and then explore a small TN town and support local business. Here’s your grid: 16S DE 28016 93118

When you walk into Tennessee Valley Brewing Company, you’re guaranteed to be welcomed like a member of the family. Owners Eric and Wendy Brannstrom and their team pour their hearts into the experience and have built a culture that makes this feel like home. Great company, great brews, great food, and just an all-around great place. Definitely worth a trip to downtown Clarksville to recon this veteran-owned business yourself! Your grid: 16S DF 67837 42524 Visit Clarksville TN

Closing out Christmas with a recon of Jacksonville Beach’s ‘Deck the Chairs’ event! It’s worth the trip and braving the cold! The chairs will be up until 01 January 2023! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Here’s your grid: 17R MP 62435 50974 Visit Jacksonville Jacksonville Beach, Florida #gridsquarerecon

In 1834, the Tennessee Constitutional Convention sought a place for the seat of government. University of Nashville math professor James Hamilton found the geographic center of Tennessee, and this obelisk marks the spot (although the actual place chosen for a building is 200 yards away from it). The TN General Assembly chose Nashville instead! This marker is a 90-minute drive from Fort Campbell, and is in the town of Murfreesboro (so there’s plenty of other things to do!). Go recon it for yourself! Our grid: 16S EE 57606 68582 #gridsquarerecon #tennessee #obelisk

I got a little too deep while doing a recon for the Army-Navy game, but hopefully this helps us all understand each other a little better. And Go Army, Beat Navy! #goarmy #beatnavy #singsecond

As a military family, a sense of belonging to the community can be a challenge. Finding projects in which we can participate and build bonds with our neighbors in the community is incredibly important, and Empty Bowls Clarksville is a wonderful way to do that. Head down to River City Clay to paint a bowl (and check out their class offerings!), and watch the Empty Bowls page for other opportunities to do so. And be on the lookout for February’s meal events! And your grid for River City Clay: 16S DF 67800 42515 Thanks to Ken and Melody Shipley for allowing us to share the Empty Bowls story! Visit Clarksville TN U.S. Army Fort Campbell #gridsquarerecon

It’s small business Saturday, and if you’re stationed at Fort Campbell, KY, there’s no better place to shop local than Miss Lucille's Marketplace in Clarksville, TN. Go recon it for yourself! (And grab a glass of Strawberry Basil Lemonade in the Cafe!) Your grid: 16S DF 75331 40616 #gridsquarerecon