Chuck Terry has cried almost every morning on the job for decades now. Most have been tears of gratitude, but some this week will be sadness over leaving his second “family” after 51 seasons. The City’s beloved Marshall, a former Marine, will hang up his iconic black hat after the Harvest Festival (https://www.silverdollarcity.com/theme-park/festivals/harvest-festival)ends on October 26.
Our dear friend reminds us that even the toughest among us have the softest hearts. Each day, before the flag is raised on Town Square, Chuck leads a moving tribute to honor veterans. As he pins patriotic ribbons onto the shirts of these heroes, his trademark twinkling eyes get misty most mornings. He sees each veteran as a story waiting to be told, a life that deserves recognition.
This heartfelt ceremony has become a cherished tradition at Silver Dollar City, one that Chuck considers the greatest honor of his remarkable five decades at the park.
“These veterans deserve every ounce of gratitude we can give them,” he explains. “It’s about recognizing their sacrifices and letting them know our Citizens care.”
Chuck's genuine heart for veterans stems from his own military background. He remembers the exact moment he knew he wanted to serve. He was only five years old.
“I was out in the front yard playing with little cars in the dirt. A taxi pulled up and a man got out in a green uniform and was carrying a big bag. I knew it wasn’t Santa because it was the wrong color. He walked over to me and said, ‘Hi Shorty!’ I knew then it was my daddy who I hadn’t seen in two years. He was coming home from World War II and I wanted to be just like him.”
Chuck’s father was in the invasion of Okinawa in 1945. Chuck, himself, was there in 1958 and 1959. His little brother also joined the Marines and was in Okinawa the year after Chuck left.
“My wonderful years of service to this great nation set me up for years of service to this great City. I’ll never forget two brothers named Rudy and Milt who were part of the opening ceremony many years ago. They were World War II vets and Milt had four gold stars pinned to his hat. The Marines gave those to his mother because she had four sons who served. All of them came home! Rudy and Milt carried the flag here one morning and both cried. Those are the stories that will stick to my bones when I look back.”
Chuck hasn’t been Marshall for all 51 of his seasons here but has always been in a role that protected and served the park. He spent 31 years, mostly overnights, with Security. “I hung up my badge in 2005 and thought I’d retire then. I was at home and got a call that The City needed a Marshall. My grandson was there and said, ‘Do it, Grandpa! Do it, Grandpa!’ So, I did. I traded that security badge for a Marshall badge and had 19 more years of my most memorable moments.”
Aside from his daily recognition of veterans, another big task has brought him and his guests both big smiles through the years.
Now that Chuck’s official duties are down to single-digit days, he’s having all sorts of mixed emotions about retirement.
“I’m feeling highs and lows,” he says with a pause. “I’m on a high that I feel like I’ve been on vacation for 51 years but low about missing my people. I’ve been with our guests and employees over half my life. Yep, the people are exactly what I’ll miss. But, every good Marshall comes to check on their City from time to time. I’ll be around! This place is just too precious to give up for good!”
As Public Relations Manager for the Silver Dollar City Company, she is eager to tap into her journalism background to hunt down “heart tugs” to write about—those stories that celebrate…
