by Heather Graf
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - The City of Clarksville is pulling out all the stops in its quest to be named the nation's Most Patriotic City. On Monday, judges for the competition arrived just in time for the community's Fourth of July festivities.
Tawny Clark and Chris Staudinger are Rand McNally and USA Today's team charged with traveling all over the country in search of the most patriotic place.
"We're looking for what the community thinks about and acts on the ideas on which our country was founded," said Staudinger. "Military has been most people's big push on this journey, but we're also really focusing on the civilian side."
Clarksville earned 650 online votes to secure a spot as a finalist. The mid-state city is competing against five others, that include Emporia, Kansas; Peachtree City, Georgia; Rapid City, South Dakota; Williamsburg, Virginia; and Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
"It's just been so nice to be here, and just be surrounded by patriotism, especially here in Clarksville," said Clark.
The Rand McNally team began their tour of Clarksville with a patriotic church service at Hilldale Baptist Church on Sunday morning. They've also toured Fort Defiance, Beachaven Winery, and the Customs House Museum and Cultural Center.
Monday morning, they kicked off the day with a visit to the home of retired Command Sergeant Major Sam Correy, whose Clarksville yard is filled with American flags.
Clark and Staudinger say it's something they've seen throughout the community.
"It a red, white, and blue town," they said.
The pair post blogs and videos from their visit on Rand McNally's website, www.bestoftheroad.com. They said people can continue to show support for Clarksville by going online and sharing their comments.
"We are not the final judges, but we do have a big say," said Clark. "And the other judges will go back and look at all of our footage and blogs."
Their final stop will be Fort Campbell, where they'll take part in the Fourth of July Festivities on post.
Residents hope the judges like what they've seen.
"We are the most patriotic city, and we show it on a regular basis," said Lana Broome. "Because we're the home of the 101st, and a longtime tradition of love of country and family."
The winner for "Most Patriotic City" is expected to be announced by the end of the month.
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