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The Tennessee Department of Veterans Services (TDVS) is proud to announce the official launch of the Honor Guard Grant Program (HGGP). This program, mandated by legislation passed by the 113th General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Bill Lee, marks a decisive step towards recognizing and supporting the dedicated efforts of non-profit organizations committed to honoring Tennessee's Veterans.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Tennessee Department of Veterans Services Commissioner Tommy Baker, and Tennessee Adjutant General Warner A. Ross II honored and recognized five Veteran state employees and nearly 450,000 Tennessee Veterans of all ages and eras at the annual Governor’s Veterans Day event today at the Hall of Flags located in the Tennessee National Guard Headquarters in Nashville.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed an executive order to position Tennessee to lead the nation as the best state for service members, veterans and their families to thrive.

Officials and Community Members Celebrate New Haven for Southeast Tennessee Veterans

Nashville – Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Tennessee Department of Veterans Services Commissioner Tommy Baker, and Tennessee Military Department Adjutant General Brigadier General Warner A. Ross II paid tribute to one service member who gave the ultimate sacrifice during the state’s Memorial Day service Thursday afternoon.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Tennessee Department of Veterans Services Commissioner Tommy Baker, and Tennessee Adjutant General Major General Jeff Holmes recognized veteran state employees and more than 450,000 Tennessee veterans at the annual Governor’s Veterans Day event.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced Major General Tommy H. Baker will serve in his cabinet as commissioner for the Department of Veterans Services, effective immediately.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Today, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced Major General Tommy H. Baker as the interim commissioner for the Department of Veterans Services. Former commissioner Courtney Rogers will return to the private sector.

NASHVILLE - Tennessee Department of Veterans Services Commissioner Courtney Rogers addressed a room packed with representatives from half of Tennessee’s public and private non-profit higher education institutions last Friday for the fifth annual Statewide Veteran Education Academy hosted at the new Tennessee College of Applied Technology Murfreesboro’s Smyrna campus.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Veterans Services Commissioner Many-Bears Grinder recognize the service and sacrifice of U.S. Marine Corps Corporal William “Carter” Ross of Hendersonville. Ross was declared deceased by the Marine Corps on December 11 after five days of search and rescue operations to find five Marines involved in an accident involving two aircraft. The KC-130 Hercules was assigned to the Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and the F/A-18 Hornet was assigned to Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242. Ross was 21-years old at the time of the accident off the coast of Japan on December 6. He was in the flight crew on the KC-130 at the time of the accident, which is currently under investigation.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Veterans Services Commissioner Many-Bears Grinder announce she will retire from public service on January 19, 2019. After 35 years in the Army National Guard and eight years as the first woman to serve as Commissioner for the Department of Veterans Services. Grinder is leaving to spend more time with family and pursue educational options, but plans to remain connected to the military and veteran communities.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Veterans Services Commissioner Many-Bears Grinder recognize the service and sacrifice of U.S. Army Private First Class Lewis Price of Rogersville, who was reported missing as of November 6, 1944 during World War II. The Hawkins County native was assigned to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 109th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division during weeks of combat in the Hurtgen Forest in Germany. Price was 23-years old when he went missing.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and First Lady Crissy Haslam today joined Tennessee Department of Veterans Services Commissioner Many-Bears Grinder and Major General Terry “Max” Haston from the Tennessee Military Department to recognize five veteran state employees and more than 470,000 Tennessee veterans of all ages and eras. The Governor’s Veterans Day event was held on the second floor of the State Capitol in downtown Nashville.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Veterans Services Commissioner Many-Bears Grinder recognize the service and sacrifice of U.S. Army Air Force Second Lieutenant Martin O’Callaghan, Jr. of Memphis, who was killed during a mission as a P-38 Lightning aircraft pilot in World War II in Maribor, Yugoslavia now known as Slovenia. He was serving with the 96th Fighter Squadron, 82nd Fighter Group when his plane was struck by anti-aircraft fire which caused him to crash in occupied territory on February 15, 1945. He was 22 years old.

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Veterans Services Commissioner Many-Bears Grinder recognize the service and sacrifice of U.S. Marine Corps Private First Class William Franklin (Frank) Cavin of Hancock County, who was killed in the Battle of Tarawa on November 20, 1943. He was assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division on Betio Island and was among 1,000 Marines and Sailors killed during the World War II battle with the Japanese. He was 18 years old.