CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The City of Clarksville held its third annual Gold Star Christmas Tree Ceremony Sunday at City Hall.

The ceremony honors the men and women who have died in the service of the nation, as well as their families.

An ornament from a Gold Star family member on the Gold Star Holiday Tree at Clarksville Town Hall during a ceremony to honor the Gold Star families and pay tribute to their deceased loved ones, on December 5, 2021. (Lee Erwin)

A Gold Star family member ornament on the Gold Star holiday tree at Clarksville Town Hall during a ceremony to honor Gold Star families and their deceased loved ones on December 5, 2021 (Lee Erwin)

Gold Star Vacation Tree Ceremony at Clarksville Town Hall in Ceremony to Honor and Honor Gold Star Families to their deceased loved ones on December 5, 2021 (Lee Erwin)

The Gold Star Holiday Tree Ceremony at Clarksville Town Hall in a ceremony to honor Gold Star families and their deceased loved ones on December 5, 2021 (Lee Erwin)

A Gold Star Family member prepares to place an ornament on the Gold Star Holiday Tree at Clarksville Town Hall during a ceremony to honor the Gold Star families and pay tribute to their dead loved ones on December 5, 2021. (Lee Erwin)

A Gold Star family member prepares to place an ornament on the Gold Star holiday tree at Clarksville Town Hall during a ceremony to honor Gold Star families and honor their deceased loved ones on 5 December 2021 (Lee Erwin)

Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts addresses Gold Star families at the Gold Star Vacation Tree Ceremony at the Hotel de City of Clarksville to honor the Gold Star families and their deceased loved ones on December 5, 2021 (Lee Erwin)

Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts addresses Gold Star families at the Gold Star Holiday Tree Ceremony at Clarksville Town Hall to honor Gold Star families and pay tribute to their deceased loved ones, the December 5, 2021 (Lee Erwin)

Clarksville First Lady Cynthia Pitts addresses Gold Star families at Clarksville Town Hall in a ceremony in the honoring the Gold Star families and paying respect to their deceased loved ones, on December 5, 2021. (Lee Erwin)

Clarksville First Lady Cynthia Pitts addresses Gold Star families at Clarksville Town Hall in a ceremony to honor Gold Star families and honor their deceased loved ones on December 5, 2021 (Lee Erwin)

Gold Star Family members prepare to place an ornament on the Gold Star Holiday Tree at Clarksville Town Hall during a ceremony to honor Gold Star families and honor their missing loved ones, on December 5, 2021. (Lee Erwin)

Members of the Gold Star family prepare to place an ornament on the Gold Star holiday tree at Clarksville Town Hall during a ceremony to honor Gold Star families and honor their deceased loved ones on 5 December 2021 (Lee Erwin)

The national anthem is sung at Clarksville City Hall during a ceremony to honor Gold Star families and honor their deceased loved ones, the December 5, 2021 (Lee Erwin)

The national anthem is sung at Clarksville Town Hall during a ceremony honoring the Gold Star families and their deceased loved ones on December 5, 2021 (Lee Erwin)

Gold Star Holiday Tree Ceremony at Clarksville Town Hall to honor Gold Star families and honor their deceased loved ones, the December 5, 2021 (Lee Erwin)

Gold Star Christmas Tree Ceremony at Clarksville Town Hall to honor Gold Star families and their deceased loved ones, December 5, 2021 (Lee Erwin)

Fort Campbell Garrison Commander Colonel Andrew Jordan addresses Gold Star Families at Clarksville Town Hall during a ceremony to honor the Gold Star families and pay tribute to their deceased loved ones, on December 5, 2021. (Lee Erwin)

Fort Campbell Garrison Commander Col. Andrew Jordan addresses Gold Star families at Clarksville Town Hall in a ceremony to honor the Gold Star families and pay tribute to their deceased loved ones on 5 December 2021 (Lee Erwin)

Gold Star Family members prepare to place an ornament on the Gold Star Vacation Tree at Clarksville Town Hall during a ceremony to honor Gold Star families and honor their missing loved ones, on December 5, 2021. (Lee Erwin)

Members of the Gold Star family prepare to place an ornament on the Gold Star holiday tree at Clarksville Town Hall during a ceremony to honor Gold Star families and honor their deceased loved ones on 5 December 2021 (Lee Erwin)

Members of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Band perform at Clarksville Town Hall in a ceremony to honor the Gold Star families and pay tribute to their deceased loved ones on December 5, 2021 (Lee Erwin)

Members of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Band perform at Clarksville Town Hall in a ceremony to honor Gold Star families and their deceased loved ones on December 5, 2021 (Lee Erwin)

Gold Star Family members prepare to place an ornament on the Gold Star Holiday Tree at Clarksville Town Hall during a ceremony to honor Gold Star families and honor their missing loved ones, on December 5, 2021. (Lee Erwin)

Members of the Gold Star family prepare to place an ornament on the Gold Star holiday tree at Clarksville Town Hall during a ceremony to honor Gold Star families and honor their deceased loved ones on 5 December 2021 (Lee Erwin)

A Gold Star Family member prepares to place an ornament on the Gold Star Vacation Tree at Clarksville Town Hall during a ceremony to honor the Gold Star families and pay tribute to their dead loved ones on December 5, 2021. (Lee Erwin)

A Gold Star family member prepares to place an ornament on the Gold Star holiday tree at Clarksville Town Hall during a ceremony to honor Gold Star families and honor their deceased loved ones on 5 December 2021 (Lee Erwin)

Gold Star Family members prepare to place an ornament on the Gold Star Holiday Tree at Clarksville Town Hall during a ceremony to honor Gold Star families and honor their deceased loved ones, on December 5, 2021. (Lee Erwin)

Members of the Gold Star family prepare to place an ornament on the Gold Star holiday tree at Clarksville Town Hall during a ceremony to honor Gold Star families and honor their deceased loved ones on 5 December 2021 (Lee Erwin)

A Gold Star is placed on the Gold Star Holiday Tree at Clarksville Town Hall during a ceremony in honor of Gold Star families and to pay respect to their deceased loved ones, on December, 5, 2021. (Lee Erwin)

A Gold Star is placed on the Gold Star Holiday Tree at Clarksville Town Hall in a ceremony to honor Gold Star families and their deceased loved ones on December 5, 2021 (Lee Erwin )

The Gold Star Vacation Tree at Clarksville Town Hall in Ceremony to Honor Gold Star Families and Honor Loved Ones deceased, December 5, 2021 (Lee Erwin)

The Gold Star Holiday Tree at Clarksville Town Hall in a ceremony to honor Gold Star families and their deceased loved ones on December 5, 2021 (Lee Erwin)

A Gold Star is placed on the Gold Star Holiday Tree at Clarksville Town Hall during a ceremony in honor of Gold Star families and to pay respect to their deceased loved ones, on December, 5, 2021. (Lee Erwin)

A Gold Star is placed on the Gold Star Holiday Tree at Clarksville Town Hall in a ceremony to honor Gold Star families and their deceased loved ones on December 5, 2021 (Lee Erwin )

First Lady Cynthia Pitts started the Clarksville Gold Star Tree tradition in 2019, with support from Fort Campbell. Pitts read a poem and offered a prayer for the Gold Star family members.

Over 45 ornaments were placed on the tree by family members, and more by city employees. Each ornament reads “We Honor and Remember” along with the service member’s name. Each family received a gift from the city and had the opportunity to write a personal message on the back of the ornament before hanging it on the tree.

“The relationship that Fort Campbell and our surviving Gold Star families have with Clarksville and this region is just great, and I cannot say it enough, this is truly our home,” said the Commander of the Fort Campbell garrison, Colonel Andrew Jordan. “They stay here for the love and connection they feel for this community.”