A ceremony was held Saturday at the Knoxville VA campus to celebrate its history and future development. The ceremony included a proclamation from Mayor Brian Hatch, a decommissioning ceremony of the chapel, and a tour of building exteriors. Kurt Froyen of Knoxville served in the United States Navy in the 1970’s, and says it was an emotional day for those involved.

“It’s bittersweet for us veterans. I think about the sheer number of veterans who were served here, and veterans who worked here as well. So it’s kind of a sad day, and yet, there are so many steps being taken now to improve care for our veterans. This is one of those steps in that direction.”

The area will be redeveloped, with demolition tentatively taking place this summer.