WLJT-TV Channel 11, West Tennessee’s Community PBS Station, is airing the first-ever Channel 11 Patriotic Marathon on July 4. The marathon begins at Noon and will honor local veterans, celebrate local communities, and pay tribute to America.
“We’re excited to be able to provide special and local WLJT programs that honor and celebrate our nation and local communities this 4th of July,” says WLJT General Manager and CEO, Peter Noll, “WLJT produces many shows that feature local veterans and showcase our communities throughout the year and we wanted to feature them all day and night to celebrate America’s birthday.”
WLJT’s 4th of July 12-Hour Patriotic Marathon kicks-off at Noon with WLJT’s “Honoring our Veterans” program, featuring the downtown Jackson Veterans Parade. The marathon continues with the World’s Biggest Fish Fry Parade from Paris, TN, the Trenton Teapot Festival Parade, and the West Tennessee Strawberry Festival Grand Floats Parade from Humboldt, TN.
“Our Production Team is proud to be able to bring all these local events into tens of thousands of homes,” says Darrell Conner, WLJT Director of Production and Operations, “Channel 11 works hard to be as local as we can for the people of West Tennessee and these programs show it.”
The marathon continues at 7pm, with America’s longest-running live national July 4th TV broadcast, A Capitol Fourth. Direct from Washington DC is the 45th annual celebration on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Featuring the nation’s largest fireworks display along with musical performances that pay tribute to our nation and armed forces.
At 10pm, is the WLJT special program “Retiring Old Glory.” This program features the largest flag retirement ceremony ever held in West Tennessee, filmed on location at Jackson’s Casey Jones Village. At 11pm, WLJT pays tribute to local World War II Veteran, Jack Claiborne. Who served in Normandy on D-Day.
WLJT-TV’S 4TH OF JULY PATRIOTIC 12-HOUR MARATHON SCHEDULE
NOON Honoring our Veterans Program & Parade
1pm Festival Spectacular
1:30pm World’s Biggest Fish Fry Parade
3:00pm Trenton Teapot Festival Parade
4pm West Tennessee Strawberry Festival Grand Floats Parade
7pm A Capitol Fourth LIVE from Washington D.C.
10pm Retiring Old Glory – U.S. Flag Ceremony
11pm Remembering WWII Veteran Jack Claiborne