CORRYTON, Tenn. — Organizers from Weigel's held a special event Saturday to honor a Knox County servicemember who passed away while serving in Afghanistan in August 2021.
Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, 23, of Knox County, was among 13 U.S. service members killed on Aug. 26 at the Kabul airport during Afghanistan evacuation operations. The Gibbs High School graduate had always wanted to serve his country, once writing as a child that he would be a Marine.
To honor his memory, organizers from Weigel's planned a memorial dedication event at the branch on Tazewell Pike, located in the Corryton community. It was held at 7420 Tazewell Pike.
They said that the event also marks Knauss' 24th birthday weekend. During the event, they said they will celebrate his life and the impact he made on the community.
Organizers also said that in case of rain or bad weather, they will hold the memorial dedication event at Gibbs High School. It starts at 10 a.m. with a veteran ride to the Weigel's branch. The memorial dedication will officially start at 12 p.m. before a birthday celebration at 1 p.m.