10th annual Riverfront Nights opens with remembrance of July 16, 2015

The Riverfront Nights music series will carry the theme of Chattanooga Remembers during the series opener on July 16. It will be a continuation of the day of remembrance that Mayor Andy Berke and the city of Chattanooga will present on July 16 at 9:45 a.m. The Riverfront Nights memorial ceremony is in honor of Chattanooga’s Fallen Five. Before the opening headliner at 7 p.m., Riverfront Nights will remember the five servicemen with a Manning of the Rail, Presentation of Colors, and the Star Spangled Banner.

Riverfront Nights is free for all to enjoy on the city’s 21st-century waterfront. Tim & Reece will follow the memorial presentation at 7:15 p.m. and headliner Lefty Williams performs at 8 p.m.

Saturday, July 16, will mark the anniversary of the Chattanooga shooting when a gunman opened fire on two military installations. Lance Cpl. Squire “Skip” Wells, Sgt. Carson Holmquist, Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan, Staff Sgt. David Wyatt, and Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith were killed that day. As we unite to remember and honor the five servicemen who lost their lives, Chattanooga Remembers will be held at Ross’s Landing and starts at 9:45 a.m. ending at noon. Riverfront Nights continues the remembrance at 7 p.m. and headliner Lefty Williams takes the stage at 8 p.m.

Williams is a respected rock guitarist who has a growing fan base he has built one fan at a time. When Williams was just 6 years old, he came up with a design that allowed him to pick a guitar despite only having one hand. His fans are very loyal and growing with him. With the release of his most recent album, “All In,” it exhibits his shear talent and soul expression through his music.

The 9:45 a.m. memorial ceremony presented by the city of Chattanooga will include Manning the Rail, Presentation of Colors, the Presentation of the Star Spangled Banner, and the Presentation of a Proclamation. At 11 a.m. (the approximate time of the first report of gunfire on July 16, 2015, at the Navy Operations Support Center) the USS Chattanooga bell will ring five times.

Chattanooga Remembers will conclude with an opportunity for those attending to pay respect to the fallen by dropping flower petals into the Tennessee River.

Friends of the Festival is a nonprofit organization that manages and produces premier events which unite and enrich our region with emphasis on the vitality of our community. For more information on Riverfront Nights please visit www.riverfrontnights.com or the Facebook page www.facebook.com/riverfrontnights.