Retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. Trey Meadows will be the grand marshal for the 2024 Crossville Christmas parade.
The parade steps off at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at Cumberland County High School.
Crossville Parks and Recreation, which organizes the annual parade, made the grand marshal selection. Meadows is the husband of the former Tracy McNeal of Crossville. They have two daughters, Sydney and Mckenzie.
Meadows’ storied military career began in June 1986, when he reported to Marine Corps Recruiting Depot Parris Island, SC, for recruit training. Upon completion of his training, he reported to D Co. 4th Combat Engineer Battalion in Knoxville for service as a reserve combat engineer.
During his time in the reserves, Meadows attended Tennessee Tech University. He was activated as a sergeant in November 1990 to Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He served as a squad leader for D Company, 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion.
At the completion of this tour, Meadows returned to Tennessee Tech. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business management and was commissioned a second lieutenant in December 1991.
Upon completion of The Basic School, Meadows reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola for flight training. In 1994 he received his wings, was designated a naval aviator, became a helicopter pilot, and reported to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464.
During that tour, Meadows completed two Landing Force Sixth Fleet deployments with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 162 in support of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. The squadron supported operations in the Adriatic Sea and conducted the noncombatant evacuation of the American Embassy in Monrovia, Liberia. Meadows also served in various operations and maintenance billets.
In January 1999, he was transferred to Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 302 to serve as a helicopter instructor pilot. While there, Meadows served in various billets in the Maintenance Department including airframes division officer, flight line officer and maintenance officer.
Meadows reported in June 2002 to Marine Helicopter Squadron One, where he served in various billets in the Operations Department. He also served as a Marine One Aircraft Commander, responsible for the worldwide safe helicopter transportation of the President of the United States.
He began serving as executive officer for the Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464 in July 2006. A year later, Meadows was assigned as the officer-in-charge of HMH-464’s Detachment Bravo to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.
Postdeployment, he reported to Marine Heavy Helicopter Training Squadron 302 as the executive officer. In February 2009, Meadows reported to Marine Aircraft Group-40 to serve as the 2D Marine Expeditionary Brigade aviation combat element operations officer for combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Meadows assumed command of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 366 in May 2010. At the completion of his command tour he reported to Marine Aircraft Group 29 as the executive officer.
In July 2012, he reported to Headquarters Marine Corps Programs and Resources as an aviation analyst for programs assessment and evaluation. He was assigned to the Office of the Secretary of Defense in January 2015 and served as the senior military assistant to the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller).
Meadows was promoted to colonel in January 2016.
In July 2018, he reported to Marine Forces Reserv,e where he served as the chief of staff, Force Headquarters Group until February 2019, when he assumed the duties as the chief of staff, 4th Marine Division.
In July 2020, Meadows assumed the duties as the chief of staff, Marine Forces Reserve ,until his retirement in June 2021.
Meadows’ personal decorations include Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars, Air Medal with V and bronze numeral 3, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with a gold star, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with a gold star, Combat Action Ribbon, Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal, and numerous unit and campaign awards.
Parade spectators are reminded that this year’s parade, Christmas Under Construction, is rerouted due to construction on Main St. The revised route proceeds from Stanley Street to northwest on West Avenue, then to 10th Street and Miller Avenue before going back to Stanley Street to disband.