Morristown, Tenn. – Courthouses across Tennessee are typically quiet on Saturdays. But on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 9 a.m., the Hamblen County Courthouse in Morristown will be bustling with activity as Chancellor Thomas “Skip” Frierson will finalize four adoptions at a special ceremony in honor of National Adoption Day.
Following the formal adoption ceremony, each adopted child will be presented with a special certificate, a bunny donated by the Nestle Foundation, a balloon and a picture frame to hold a photo taken with their new family and the chancellor. This is the eighth year Frierson has hosted a National Adoption Day ceremony in Morristown.
“I’m truly honored to play a small role in helping unite these new families,” Frierson said. “As a father of three adopted children, I understand the significance of this day and we work hard to make it a special event for the children and their new families.”
During the event, the “Bill Williams Award” will be presented to an East Tennessee attorney for supporting the adoption of children. The award was created in honor of Bill Williams, a reporter for Knoxville’s NBC affiliate WBIR-TV and longtime advocate for adoption.
Hamblen County Mayor Bill Brittain, Morristown City Mayor Barbara Barile and Hamblen County Bar President Mary Rutherford will also be in attendance to present proclamations.
National Adoption Day was designed to raise awareness about the 114,000 children nationally who are available for adoption. In Tennessee alone, there are more than 7,000 children in foster care who are waiting to find permanent families.