Tennessee officials are moving Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway
signs from State Route 386, known as Vietnam Veterans Boulevard, following backlash from veterans. The signs, installed in June 2026, will be relocated to Long Hollow Pike after local veterans objected to sharing a roadway dedicated to the 25 Sumner County service members who died in the Vietnam War.
Veterans Object to Shared Designation
The controversy centers on a 15-mile stretch of State Route 386 in Sumner County. In June 2026, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) installed signs renaming a portion of the road as the Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway.
The designation was intended to honor the late conservative activist and Turning Point USA co-founder, who was killed in Utah in September 2025.
Local veterans, however, expressed immediate frustration, noting that the road had long been established as Vietnam Veterans Boulevard to honor 25 local service members who died during the Vietnam War. According to one veteran, the lack of consultation regarding the change felt like an oversight of their history. Sumner County Commissioner Jeremy Mansfield stated that many veterans felt the new signage disrespected the ground set aside for their fallen comrades.
Legislative Reversal and Relocation Plans
The backlash prompted State Representative Johnny Garrett, the sponsor of the legislation that authorized the memorial, to seek a new location for the signs. Garrett acknowledged that he had not realized the veterans would view the shared designation as an affront to the sacred nature of the existing memorial.
“The criticism prompted the bill’s sponsor, State Rep. Johnny Garrett, to reverse course and find a new location.”
Reported by WZTV, via KVAL
Garrett confirmed that the designation will be moved to Long Hollow Pike in Goodlettsville. Commissioner Mansfield praised the adjustment, stating that the new location allows for the honoring of Kirk without compromising the original memorial. Barry Rice, a Sumner County Vietnam veteran, expressed relief at the move, emphasizing that while he was saddened by Kirk’s death, the Vietnam Veterans Boulevard should remain dedicated to those who served in the war.
“To every Vietnam veteran who spoke up, thank you. Thank you for your service and for your sacrifice.”
Jeremy Mansfield, Sumner County Commissioner, via WSMV
TDOT Authority and Administrative Hurdles
Although local officials and the bill’s sponsor have agreed on the relocation, the actual removal of the signs is currently stalled. According to NewsChannel 5, TDOT maintains that they cannot unilaterally move the signs without a formal work order, which must be directed by the Tennessee General Assembly.
“The Tennessee General Assembly approves memorial designation of roadways, while the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is responsible for fabricating and installing the signage. Regarding the placement or removal of the signage, TDOT will follow the direction provided by the General Assembly, which we have not yet received.”
TDOT spokesperson, via WSMV and WTVF
Because the state legislature is not currently in session, the formal process to relocate the signs may be delayed until at least January, when lawmakers return to the Capitol. This leaves the Charlie Kirk Memorial Highway
signs in place on the disputed stretch of road for the time being, despite the consensus among local officials that they should be moved.
Broader Context of Tennessee Memorial Legislation
The incident highlights the tensions that can arise when memorial designations are assigned to existing public infrastructure. The Charlie Kirk memorial was part of an omnibus bill passed by the Tennessee legislature earlier in 2026. While the legislation sought to honor the activist, it did not include local input from the community where the memorial was placed. As noted by WSMV, Kirk had no direct ties to Tennessee, having been born in the Chicago suburbs and later residing in Arizona.
The state has recently seen a series of legislative moves involving memorial designations and historical education. A separate law, the Charlie Kirk American Heritage Act, took effect on July 1, allowing public educators to teach about the positive impacts of Christianity on American history.
The ongoing delay in relocating the highway signs remains the primary point of friction, as veterans and local officials wait for the administrative steps necessary to restore the original designation of Vietnam Veterans Boulevard.
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