The Chattanooga Regents Council and the John Sevier Chapter, SAR, held their annual Flag Day ceremony at the Brainerd Mission Cemetery.

The SAR provided the U.S. and Tennessee state flags, and the Brainerd Mission Cemetery Committee provided the Cherokee Nation flags, while also caring for and maintaining the cemetery. The speaker for this event was Jeff Bishop.

Mr. Bishop, director of the Funk Heritage Center and Bennett History Museum at Reinhardt University, teaches Native American history and museum studies there.

He has lectured throughout the region on Southern and indigenous history, served nearly a decade as state chapter president for the Trail of Tears Association, and worked with the National Park Service on several Cherokee Removal-related sites. Mr. Bishop has written several books on Southern towns and the Cherokee Removal, is a graduate of the University of Georgia and the University of West Georgia, and was recently appointed by the governor to serve a third term on the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Council. Mr. Bishop delivered the presentation, titled "The Chickamauga Cherokee and the Spirit of Revolution". Very fitting with the America 250 celebration on the horizon.

Attendees and guests included the local SAR and DAR chapter members, DAR state leaders, members of the Cherokee Nation, and committee members. Next year’s event will take place on Wednesday, June 9, 2027.