Coolidge Park is the heart of our city. Every tourist and citizen meanders their way through the park’s winding paths and riverfront scenery. We all visit the carousel, the fountain, and the Walking Bridge. We attend the Easter egg hunts, the concerts, the movies, the weddings. But we never take a second to look past the designation on the park’s signs. Coolidge. We’ve heard that name before. He was a president, right?

The epicenter of our town was named in honor of a very notable Chattanoogan.

While often assumed, Coolidge Park is not named for our thirtieth president. It is named for our hometown hero, Charles H. Coolidge. A WWII Veteran, Medal of Honor recipient, entrepreneur and Signal Mountain resident. Charles H. Coolidge is one of two living WWII Medal of Honor Recipients.

Take a few minutes to read his remarkable story. Courtesy of Jessica Bliss, https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/2015/08/07/tennessee-living-medal-honor-recipient/30899993/

Sources: Bliss, Jessica. The Bravest of the Brave. The Tennessean. 2015

Photo Source: https://www.army.mil/article/37865/chattanooga_aca_scenic_city

Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Living Recipients.  http://www.cmohs.org/living-recipients.php