Thank You, Smyrna, for Honoring Those Who Served
Veterans Day celebration recognizes service, sacrifice and a continuing commitment to our nation
On November 11, 2026, the Town of Smyrna and the Smyrna Veterans of Foreign Wars brought the community together for a Veterans Day celebration honoring the men and women who have served our nation. It was an opportunity to express gratitude not only to veterans, but also to military personnel and the families whose support is an essential part of a life of service.
Thank you to the Town of Smyrna, the Smyrna VFW and everyone who contributed to this meaningful observance. By making time to recognize our veterans, Smyrna affirmed the importance of remembering their sacrifices and carrying that gratitude into everyday community life.
A Community United in Gratitude
Town Manager David Santucci welcomed those gathered for the celebration. The Town of Smyrna Fire Department Honor Guard presented the colors, and PRIME Academy youth led the Pledge of Allegiance. Nancy List performed the national anthem, and Chaplain Jim Hunt offered the prayer.
Each contribution helped place the focus where it belonged: on those who have answered the call to serve. The participation of local youth alongside veterans and community leaders also connected generations through a shared expression of respect.
Commander Darrell Birk of the Smyrna VFW delivered remarks, representing an organization that helped make the observance possible. Together, the town and the VFW extended heartfelt appreciation to veterans, military personnel and their families for the service and sacrifice that help safeguard the freedoms Americans cherish.
A Lifetime of Military Leadership
The keynote address was delivered by Brigadier General Mark Tyndall, Director of the Joint Staff for the Tennessee National Guard. His military career reflects decades of service, beginning with his enlistment as a Stinger Missile Crewmember in 1991. He commissioned as an Infantry Officer through Clemson University ROTC in 1996.
Tyndall’s leadership assignments have included Special Forces Detachment Commander, Battalion Commander, Brigade Commander and Tennessee National Guard Chief of the Joint Staff. His deployments have included Operation Noble Anvil in Kosovo, multiple tours supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq.
A Clemson University graduate, Tyndall also holds master’s degrees from American Military University and the United States Army War College. His decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Purple Heart and the Meritorious Service Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters. He has earned the Special Forces and Ranger tabs, the Master Parachutist badge and the Pathfinder badge.
In addition to delivering the keynote address, Tyndall led the swearing-in ceremony. Its place in the program connected the day’s recognition of past service with a continuing commitment to serve—a fitting element of an observance dedicated to honoring veterans.
Santucci concluded the program with closing remarks.
Remembering the Past, Honoring Every Generation
Veterans Day carries a history rooted in the end of World War I. At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918, the armistice took effect, ending the fighting. In 1954, Armistice Day became Veterans Day in the United States, broadening the observance to honor veterans of all wars.
Smyrna’s celebration carried that purpose forward through a program centered on remembrance, appreciation and service. It recognized that behind every military career are personal sacrifices—and families who share in the demands of duty.
To the Town of Smyrna, the Smyrna VFW, the program participants and all who helped organize the celebration: thank you for giving the community an occasion to express its gratitude.
And to our veterans, military personnel and their families: thank you for your service, your sacrifice and your enduring commitment to our nation.
