Students at the Christian Academy of the Cumberlands honored the official state poem, “Oh Tennessee, My Tennessee,” with art work depicting their love and feelings of Tennessee. The poem was adopted by the Tennessee Legislature in 1973, making it 50 years old in 2023. The poem was written by Admiral William P. Lawrence, a native of Nashville, while serving as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. Admiral Lawrence was held for six years as a prisoner of war. During this time of imprisonment, he thought about his boyhood home and remembered the days of hunting, fishing and roaming the land which gave him hope as he dreamed of one day being able to return to the land he loved and knew as home.
The Tennessee Society Daughters of the American Revolution chose this poem as the theme for the Tennessee Poster Contest. Students in grades 4-7 were eligible to participate as they created a poster to represent the ideas presented through the words of the poem, “Oh Tennessee, My Tennessee.” Tyrone Sussmann, a fifth-grade student at the Christian Academy of the Cumberlands, was chosen as the winner by The Crab-Orchard Chapter, NSDAR. Tyrone’s colorful drawing depicts the wide diverse landscape of Tennessee. Included in his drawing is the stone-arched bridge at Cumberland Mountain State Park. Tyrone is the son of Kayla Gellatly.
Tyrone’s drawing will be forwarded to the state for further judging. He will be honored later this year by The Crab-Orchard Chapter during their awards program.