Arrival in Nashville
2,200 Miles
Late Friday morning, October 8, Doris "Granny D" Haddock, accompanied by U.S. Senator Russ Feingold and U.S. Representative Zach Wamp, arrived in Nashville by foot, stopping at the steps of the State Capitol to greet citizens and the press. Doris's remarks follow:
"Thank you. I want to thank Representative Zach Wamp, who helped lead the successful campaign finance reform effort in the U.S. House for the second consecutive year, and Senator Russ Feingold, who showed great courage by putting his own reelection on the line when he refused soft money contributions.
"I have enjoyed walking through your beautiful, green Tennessee. It has been an honor for me to walk through the land where so many great Americans have lived and walked. I would like to take this occasion to honor just a few of them. I am carrying with me today the names of Tennessee boys who served our nation with great courage and distinction. They each received the Medal of Honor for their military service. Some lived to receive the medal, others did not. Please join me in remembering them here again.
JOSEPH ADKINSON, CLAY BEAUFORD, ROBERT BONNEY, CHARLES CANTRELL, WILLIAM CARTER, JOSEPHUS CECIL, HARRISON COLLINS, RAYMOND COOLEY, CHARLES COOLIDGE, JESSE COVINGTON, JAMES DOSHIER, RAY DUKE, JOHN FERRELL, JAMES GARDNER, GEORGE GILLESPIE, GEORGE GRANT, ALLEN GREER,, BOLDEN RUSH HARRISON, GEORGE HOBDAY, PAUL HUFF, OLIVER HUGHES, DON JENKINS, GEORGE JORDAN, JAMES KARNES, ELBERT KINSER, JOHN KYLE, GAINES LAWSON, MILO LEMERT, WILLIAM LYELL, CHARLES McGAHA, VERNON McGARITY, TROY McGILL, WILLIAM MORRIS, CHARLES PENDLETON, DAVID RAY, WALTER SINGLETON, DANIEL STEVENS, MITCHELL STOUT, BENONI STINSON, EDWARD TALLEY, CALVIN WARD, SETH WELD, JOHN WILLIS, and ALVIN YORK
"And for each name, there are thousands of other Tennessee men and women who have dedicated their lives --and sometimes sacrificed their lives-- to protect our freedoms.
"These sacrifices were not made so that special interests and big money might take control of our institutions of self-governance. If we indeed let that happen, then we are not honoring the price that has been paid for our freedoms.
"If ye break faith with us who die, we shall not sleep, though poppies grow in Flanders field."
"For those in the U.S. Senate who refuse to sweep special interest money out of the Congress, I hold up this list to you (Senator Feingold held up the list) and ask you to do your duty as Americans and as free men and women. You stand on the shoulders of free men and women who have come before, who held their courage against all fears and all temptations.
"It is time to be men, and not children. It is time to be courageous, and not greedy. It is time to toss away the flimsy rationalizations that have been set up, where no real and mature arguments can stand.
"Do the right thing, Senators. Pass this bill that Mr. Feingold and Mr. McCain have put before you and that the common men and women of America long for. Be brave against your financial needs. Be brave against your party's needs. Do what your mother and your grandmother would have you do in the name of all your family members who have sacrificed so much for our freedoms.