Children will leave the Hamblen County Chancery Courtroom in Morristown on Saturday with new permanent families, new names and new Teddy bears, following a special 9 a.m. adoption ceremony to be conducted by Chancellor Thomas (Skip) Frierson.
“This is the fourth year we’ve celebrated National Adoption Day at our courthouse,” Frierson said. “It is especially significant in my family since my wife and I adopted our three children. There are few times when everyone leaves the courthouse with a smile, but on this day, they do.”
In addition to presenting the children with Teddy bears, a professional photographer will take portraits of the new families with the chancellor. The courtroom will be decorated with balloons and refreshments are being provided. A Power Point presentation showing celebrations from past years will be shown prior to the ceremony, Frierson said.
“The Hamblen County Bar Association has, again, contributed to this event,” he said. “It has become one of our favorite days of the year.”
For Frierson, the legal duty is a personal pleasure.
“As the father of adopted children, I cannot imagine a more rewarding and fulfilling honor than to have a small role in creating these new families,” he said.
National Adoption Day was designed to facilitate the adoption of the nation’s 114,000 foster children and bring attention to their plight. In Tennessee, more than 8,200 children are in foster care, including nearly 1,600 in East Tennessee.
Editors and Broadcasters: Chancellor Frierson will allow cameras in the courtroom for this event. If you need additional information, call Sue Allison at 615-532-6047 or call Chancellor Frierson’s office at 423-586-9500.