Veterans Memorial Bridge (Chattanooga) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Veterans Memorial Bridge |
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| Coordinates | 35°03′25″N 85°18′09″W / 35.0570°N 85.3025°W |
| Crosses | Tennessee River |
| Preceded by | C.B. Robinson Bridge |
| Followed by | Walnut Street Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Girder bridge |
| Material | Steel |
| Longest span | 420 feet (130 m) |
| History | |
| Construction end | 1984 |
The Veterans Memorial Bridge is a strong steel bridge in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It was built in 1984. This bridge crosses the Tennessee River and Audubon Island. Audubon Island is home to the McClellan Animal Sanctuary. The Veterans Memorial Bridge is one of four bridges that cross the Tennessee River in downtown Chattanooga. It is a special type of bridge called a girder bridge.
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Honoring Our Heroes: The Veterans Memorial Bridge Story
The Veterans Memorial Bridge was built to honor American veterans. These are people who served in the country's armed forces. The bridge shows Chattanooga's strong support for its veterans. It also shows how strong the community can be when people work together. The bridge helps tell the story of veterans. It stays strong and well-cared for by the community.
The bridge also honors veterans by flying American flags. These flags are changed twice a year. An unknown person first put the flags on the bridge. They spent over $40,000 each year to keep the flags new. The flags stand for the bravery and courage of the honored veterans.
After some time, the anonymous donor stopped replacing the flags. In 2013, a local person named Scott McKenzie stepped in. He helped arrange for people in the community to sponsor the flags. Now, people in Chattanooga can donate a flag for the bridge. This is a way to honor individual veterans. Local groups in Chattanooga also help by donating flags for the bridge.
How the Bridge Helps the Chattanooga Community
The Veterans Memorial Bridge is a big part of the Chattanooga community. It is used for many different events. Two examples are the Great Chattanooga Rubber Duck Race and the Girls Preparatory School's 100th birthday party.
The Great Chattanooga Rubber Duck Race
The Great Chattanooga Rubber Duck Race is a fun event. It is like the Great Knoxville Rubber Duck Race. Both races raise money for children's clubs in Tennessee. Chattanooga's duck race helps the Boys' Club of Chattanooga, INC. During the race, parts of the Veterans Memorial Bridge are closed. This lets people watch the duck race from above. After the race, the event sponsors clean up the area. They also put traffic signs back in place.
Girls Preparatory School's Big Celebration
The Veterans Memorial Bridge also played a role in the Girls Preparatory School's 100th birthday. This celebration happened during the 2005-2006 school year. In September 2005, the whole school marched across the bridge. They were going to their celebration events. These events included speakers and videos. Like the duck race, part of the bridge was closed. This made sure the girls could cross safely.
Making the Bridge Better: Community Improvements
The community also helps improve the Veterans Memorial Bridge. In 2011, a person named Mr. Dan Johnson bought new lights. These lights replaced the old ones under the bridge. The new lights usually work at half power. Police officers can even change the light power from their computers.
