Grand Marshals share legacy of service
As a tribute to America, the Town of Farragut is recognizing 15 veterans as grand marshals in its Independence Day Parade.
They include Fred Adomat, Jim Bolon, Nancy Bolon, Marilyn Childress, Bill Craddick, Dave Fahidy, Gerry Godolphin, Stewart Greenfield, Jessica Hodge, Dennis Laneman, Kristi Luttrell, Jim O’Brien, Scott Rastovic, Noell Simmons and Jason Simon.
All will ride in Corvettes donated by the Farragut Lions Club.
Jim Bolon
Inspired by his parents’ service, Bolon worked in the U.S. Navy from 1976 through 1996 as a surface warfare officer and an engineering duty officer and retired as a commander.
Nancy Bolon
Bolon served in the U.S. Navy from 1979 to 2006, rising from seaman recruit to commander before working as a Blue Angels executive officer.
Marilyn Childress
Childress served in the U.S. Navy from 1972 to 1975 as a hospital corpsman and operating room technician, rising to petty officer second class.
Dave Fahidy
Fahidy served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1988 to 1992, rising to sergeant through deployments for Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Desert Sabre.
Jessica Hodge
Hodge served two tours in the U.S. Marine Corps (1989-1999, 2003-2005), retiring as a staff sergeant after working in Operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom.
Dennis Laneman
Laneman served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1969. He deployed to Vietnam and was awarded a Purple Heart after being injured in combat.
Kristi Luttrell
Luttrell served in the U.S. Coast Guard from 1993 to 2025, a career that saw notable impact during the 1994 Haiti and Cuba migrant crises.
James R. “Jim” O’Brien
O'Brien served in the U.S. Air Force from 1967 to 1994,
retiring as a colonel. His career included multiple tours, and he supported Operations
Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
Jason Simon
Simon served in the U.S. Navy from 2003 to 2023, retiring as a commander after a 20-year career that culminated as executive officer and chief of staff at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake.
Fred Adomat
Adomat enlisted in the U.S. Army after an initial medical disqualification due
to a heart murmur. He completed training but was honorably discharged for
the murmur before serving veterans as an honor guard member.
William Craddick
Craddick served as an Army armor officer from 1971 to 1975, supporting America's commitment to NATO and the defense of Western Europe.
Jerry Godolphin
Godolphin served in the US. Air Force from 1961 to 1965, supporting one of America's first operational nuclear cruise missiles.
Stuart Greenfield
Originally from Nevada, Greenfield graduated boot camp just days before the
Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. He deployed to Iraq three times and served in Fallujah.
Noell “Melon” Simmons
Simmons served in the U.S. Air Force from 1987 to 1991, deploying to the Persian
Gulf and supporting Cold War air defense missions before retraining as an aerial gunner.
Rastovic was reached out to but there was no response.
