Air Force veteran stops in Jonesborough as he travels to all 50 states

JONESBOROUGH – Jonesborough Town Hall saw a patriotic salute from Paul Burns Wednesday morning as his American flag was raised towards the clear blue sky. An Air Force veteran from New Mexico, Burns is traveling around the country to complete a dream from 20 years ago – and he is taking his Old Glory with him. This dream, he shared, is to travel to all 50 states with the American flag given to him upon his retirement from military service, stopping in what is considered each state's most patriotic and best small towns to raise and lower his flag. And for Tennessee? Burns chose Jonesborough, the state's oldest town. "This whole thing has taken a life of its own," he said. "It really was nothing more than a personal quest, and I'm kinda calling it 'Travels with Old Glory.'" The veteran said while the dream is something he had thought of two decades ago, he only just recently committed to it. Around half a year ago, Burns began researching state towns that fit his criteria for the travel – and Jonesborough made the list for Tennessee in both of his categories. Jonesborough Mayor Kelly Wolfe helped Burns organize his trip to Tennessee's oldest town, coordinating a time to meet outside of the Jonesborough Town Hall building. Members of the Jonesborough Fire Department also aided Burns in raising and lowering his flag. Wolfe said Burns reaching out to make Jonesborough his Tennessee stop was something he was appreciative of, believing Jonesborough was the perfect pick to highlight the state's patriotic support. "We're glad that he recognized and was able to discover exactly how great our patriotism is here in Jonesborough – how special it is, and how unique we are, especially amongst all the other small towns in Tennessee," he said. Burns said since he began traveling two weeks ago, he has already visited Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. After his stop in Tennessee, he plans to go to Eureka Springs, Ark. and Guthrie, Okla., before heading back home to New Mexico and preparing for the next stage of his trip. "I'll hit at least 48 [states]," Burns said with a chuckle. "Alaska and Hawaii will take a little more planning, but I'm going to try and hit all 50 states." Burns added being able to accomplish his dream of visiting every state in America is something he was excited for, sharing he wants to see the truest form of the United States with every stop he makes. "Not too many people have a dream of doing something and actually do it, and this has been beyond my dreams to see America the way it really is," he said. "Our country is not what is seen in the major media, and consequently, most people – most Americans – don't know the real America. So, I'm going to see it."