Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Monday, December 19, 2011

Christmas Lights from Patriot Park (Pigeon Forge, TN)

After seeing the lights in Gatlinburg (this past Friday's post),  we drove to the nearby area of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee,  to park and walk around Patriot Park.   We had been to this park before a few years ago (with Judy and Charlie)---but there were some different light displays this year... They usually keep some 'old favorites' at the park--but they add new displays each year... Here are some of the displays we saw this year.  You can enlarge the pictures to 16x10 by clicking on the photos.

The picture above shows a great depiction of the Raising of the Flag at Iwo Jima by our MARINES.  To the left is an ARMY tank.




Since they were honoring all of the branches of the armed forces,  this picture shows a NAVY Aircraft Carrier in the center.   And--you can see the airplane to your left --representing the AIR FORCE.




This picture shows a COAST GUARD Cutter.   I loved seeing the details in these wonderful light displays.




AND here is a better picture showing the airplane belonging to the AIR FORCE.




These next two pictures are displays that are at the park every year...  This Paddlewheeler represents life along the big rivers here in the USA.




And this neat display shows a Plantation Home beside the Live Oak trees, complete with Spanish Moss..   I visited some plantations like this one in southern Lousiana.  (Ever been to Oak Alley?????)  Wow!!!




Finally,   here is one more picture showing my favorite this year, the Raising of the Flag at Iwo Jima...  AND---if you look above the flag,  you will see a gorgeous  "almost-full"  moon shining over us!!!!  How AWESOME is that!!!!

Hope you enjoyed our photos from Patriot Park this year....  God Bless AMERICA and God Bless our TROOPS.

Have a wonderful day!!!!
Hugs,
Betsy

60 comments:

Valerie said...

What a great place to see! We don't have anything like that around here :(

eileeninmd said...

Hi Betsy, this park looks lovely with all the beautiful lights and displays. Thanks for sharing. I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

Ruth Hiebert said...

Amazing displays. I love how people get so creative with the Christmas displays.

Catherine said...

Goodness that is a lot of great lights you saw Betsy! Very fun!
Happy Monday!
xo Catherine

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

I adore spanish moss! You really saw some cool lights on your trip.

Sandy said...

Wonderful displays, love the ones honoring our military. (o:

linda m said...

WOW!!! I am impressed. Sure is nice to see that some patriotic people are still alive and well. Thanks for sharing.

Connie said...

Really neat light displays, Betsy! They go to a lot of work to put those up in such detail. Thanks for sharing the pictures! :)

CottonLady said...

How incredibly beautiful!! I love the one of the Marines the best, also. But all were great.

MadSnapper said...

spectacular light show, i can only image how gorgeous it would be to walk along and look at all these lights, lots of creativity and a lot of work. i love the oak trees by the plantation home.

Karin said...

That is such a lovely evening walk and it shows off the lights fabulously! Thanks for taking us along!

trump said...

Very Christmas and patriotic at the same time, i love it. And very fitting since some of our guys are now coming home from Iraq. Well done Betsy as always. Richard

Anonymous said...

So beautiful!!! I love the light displays there. Wish I could see them in person.

Shug said...

Oh I love this.....Would love to see it! I love Christmas lights of all kinds! I love how you and George are enjoying your retirement....You get to see some great things and in turn we get to see them as well....
hugs Betsy!
Shug

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

I'm amazed at the clarity of your night photos. These turned out beautifully. Nice work. :)

Fred Alton said...

Amen to your, "God Bless America and our Troops!" I've been to (lived in) southern Louisiana and seen those moss covered oak trees. Nothing like them.

TexWisGirl said...

that is really an awesome light display. i like all of the branches of the service being represented. :)

Arkansas Patti said...

What a wonderful job they have done. Amazing. Thanks for taking us along. I was impressed with the Spanish Moss detail.

Anonymous said...

Hi Betsy, Maybe next year for us. The area is nice but does get crowded in the Summer - which is the only time we have made it there (once). I think we may want to go especially for those light displays. Have a wonderful day and enjoy the sunshine.

Neal said...

Those are neat Betsy. We'll have to get down there sometimes and see them.

happyone said...

I really liked looking at all your photos of lights. It is really cool. We have a place very near home called the Symphony of Lights which we will be going to see one night soon.

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Awesome displays, Betsy! I love the patriotic theme and the plantation house with the spanish moss is neat! Thanks for sharing these photos.

imac said...

Really neat lights Betsy.

God bless and Peace to all Nations.

SmilingSally said...

Oh, Betsy, these light displays are SUPER!

Merry Christmas!

camp and cottage living said...

Betsy
I've never seen a military light display. Thanks for sharing it.
I love your banner with your decorated home, especially the snow!

Susie Swanson said...

Oh what a beautiful place..I've never seen it but can't wait to go..Hope you have a Merry Christmas..Susie

Ann said...

now that is what I call an awesome light display. It's always nice to see our armed forces honored.

LV said...

What an awesome sight to have seen. I enjoyed from your perspective tho.

Harriet said...

Great pictures!

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

Your header shows a very warm Christmas house, come in and have some egg nog.

Anonymous said...

Wow! Fantastic! I think I like the 1st one best :-)

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

~Ron

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

a lot of families will be very happy to have the troops back from Iraq.

Chatty Crone said...

We are going to have to head to Pigeon Forge next year - I really do love Christmas lights - those looked great. sandie

Larry said...

This is quite the display... thanks so much for sharing it and also thank you for your always generous comments at my site... they are truly appreciated! Merry Christmas! Larry

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

This was a wonderful patriotic Christmas light display at Pigeon ForGE, Betsy! The best I've ever seen!

Lady Di Tn said...

This post and the previous one shows how grand the light displays are in these two towns. Peace

SquirrelQueen said...

Wow, what amazing displays. It must take them all year to get ready for this event. I really like the Air Force plane, I'm going to show that one to my hubby.

That plantation home is just gorgeous. It reminds me of Savannah.

Diane said...

Beautiful lights Betsy, very well done. Diane

Ms. A said...

The pictures are great, can't imagine seeing them in person!

Anonymous said...

Those are some lights! Great display. Merry Christmas.

Out on the prairie said...

Some lovely displays,I always enjoyed setting up one in our park at my other home and missed it this year.

diane b said...

A great light display. It is a different kind of memorial park and very attractive. Must have been moving to be there.

Diane AZ said...

Looks like you had a wonderful time viewing the Christmas lights in Gatlinburg! It really is a fantastic display, great pictures!

carolina nana said...

Love,love,love those lights of the plantation and especially the live oak trees. That is an awesome display.
The rain is moving in here as I type this at market today.
Blessings
Marilyn

Annie Jeffries said...

Outstanding!!!, Betsy. I'm sending this to my husband. He will really enjoy seeing this.

Merry Christmas to you and all your loved ones,
Annie

Betty Manousos said...

dear betsy,

that is such a lovely park!
it is a great light display indeed.
i like every single one of your photos.

I'd like to wish you and yours a very happy Christmas!

big hugs!
betty

Sally Wessely said...

I loved seeing these. We need to go for a ride and see the Christmas lights around here. I didn't put any up outside this year. Too much going on.

Rose said...

I would love to see these in person...I love Christmas lights!

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

I Love the last pic...neat patriotic lights

Stephanie Suzanne Designs said...

Hey Betsy,

Thanks for dropping by my blog. I've been so busy getting my Etsy shoppe under way and now I seem to stay busy around the clock. Thomas goes on Medicare next month and my insurance policy that I have this year has doubled in price for next year...so I dropped to the cheapest one they offer and it's still TOOOOO expensive.

Pray for my Etsy shoppe to bring me prosperity!

Have a Merry Christmas!
Hugs,
Steph ♥

Busy Bee Suz said...

I love all the honoring of our hero's!!! Beautiful photos.
Love to you both!

nanny said...

How do you make such wonderful pictures at night....mine don't turn out so well.

I hope you and George have a very Merry Christmas.

Busy days......see you soon!

Andrea said...

Wow, these are real lovely photo, thanks for the tour as if we were there too. We have lots of lights also here, our countrymen are really pouring out all their energies decorating homes and parks, but i don't go out at night with camera, i just kept the sight in my head. Merry Christmas and a Blessed 2012.

Carletta said...

These are wonderful Betsy! Hubby and I used to love driving the kids around looking at the lights each Christmas. We would take them a drink and a snack. I still love seeing them.
Thanks for sharing these Smokey Mt. lovelies!

Lisa said...

The lights are more than awesome. The picture of your home is most lovely Betsy.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Betsy.

penny said...

What a beautiful display of Christmas lights Pigeon Forge has. I've never been to that part of Tennessee. Thanks for letting me look over your shoulder.

Be Well and Happy, Betsy.
Warm hugs,
Pam

Pat Tillett said...

I've never seen anything like these places! Thanks...

Anonymous said...

That last picture is great; like that you included the moon in it!

Annesphamily said...

You share such dreamy things with us! I love all these shares. You make me smile always! Anne

Travel Quest said...

My husband and I were planning for a trip to Sevierville tommorow to watch festival of lights. I do the quick research to google, the photo leads me to this website and I knew it was you because it says betsyfromtennessee :D I think on this post you make me tour already. I just miss the Winter festival in Niagara Falls and so without a second thought I told my husband I want to see the version of Tennessee lights festival.