Nearly 100 nursing home residents and staff members took part Tuesday morning in the annual downtown Greeneville Nursing Home Week Parade.

"National Nursing Home Week" festivities are now in full swing at the local long-term care facilities.

The parade was delayed for a day due to the chilly weather on Monday morning. At parade time on Tuesday morning, the temperatures were still a bit cool in the mid-50s, but much warmer than on Monday.

Sunny skies were also on tap for Tuesday morning as the residents taking part in the event were pushed in wheelchairs by nursing home staff from Towne Square Shopping Center, down Summer and Main streets, to the Greene County Courthouse, where a brief program took place.

Four of the local long-term care facilities took part in the parade, including: Laughlin Healthcare Center, Life Care Center of Greeneville, Durham-Hensley Health and Rehabilitation, and Signature HealthCARE (formerly Greeneville West.)

Also participating in the parade were the two Greeneville Astros baseball team mascots, Tennessee Tex and Tennessee Tess, who were driven in the parade by Greeneville businessman and philantrophist Scott Niswonger in his classic 1965 Mustang convertible.

Due to the parade's postponement, the West Greene High School marching band and the South Greene Band were unable to participate in the parade on Tuesday.

At the courthouse steps, a joint proclamation, signed by both Greene County Mayor Alan Broyles and Greeneville Mayor Darrell Bryan, was read by Mayor Broyles officially proclaiming May 11-17 as National Nursing Home Week in Greeneville and Greene County.

Mayor Bryan was unable to attend the event.

"On behalf of Greene County, we'd like to say thank you for being here," Mayor Broyles told the crowd of parade participants gathered on the courthouse lawn.

Out of the more than 63,000 citizens in Greene County, a large portion are seniors, age 60 or older, Mayor Broyles said.

"It is a comfort to know that Greene County has many outstanding nursing homes and assisted-living facilities that will meet the needs of many of our elderly citizens," he continued.

"It is also a comfort to us who have family members who may need the services of a nursing home or assisted-living facility to know that these organizations are staffed with well-trained and caring people, who will give proper care and attention to those who deserve our very best," the county mayor continued.

"Thank you to the staff of the nursing homes for all of the work that you do," he said.

"I have visited family members in (our local) nursing homes for several years. I know first hand that all of you do a good job and are caring individuals. From the bottom of my heart, I say thank you."

A resident of Laughlin Healthcare Center, the Rev. Luther Reed spoke about the theme of this year's National Nursing Home Week, "Love Is Ageless."

At age 90, Rev. Reed continues to remain a spiritual guide and inspirational speaker for the community.

During his brief talk, he said that God's love is not only ageless, but also everlasting.

"When you say, 'Love Is Ageless,' what do you mean?" he asked the crowd gathered at the courthouse. "Do you mean you love people regardless of their age? Or do you mean it is something that you do for all people?"

Rev. Reed said that we must remember that "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

God taught us to love one another, Rev. Reed said. "God is love. He is our example ... and He made it possible for us to love one another.

"We ought to be thankful today for those who do love, for those who are willing to give themselves in service to all of us," he continued. "So on behalf of all of the residents here today, I want to say thanks to those who provide the care that is provided to us in these nursing homes."

A balloon lift-off was held following the conclusion of Rev. Reed's talk.

Special activities are continuing this week at the local nursing home facilties. Family and friends of residents are encouraged to visit and take part in the planned events.