To the Citizens of Bedford County,

My name is Tommie Boleyn, and I have the honor of serving as the Commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5019 here in Shelbyville, Tennessee. I have served as the elected Commander since July 1, 2025, and I am currently completing a one‑year term. I am a life member of the VFW and Disabled American Veterans, and an annual member of the American Legion Post in Shelbyville.

I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps after graduating from high school in 1983 and served on active duty as an infantryman until 1996. After leaving the Marine Corps, I moved to Tennessee with my wife and began a career in law enforcement. My wife, Tara, and I raised our family here, and both of our daughters graduated from Central High School. I retired from the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy sheriff in 2020.

Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, I felt called to return to military service and enlisted in the Tennessee Army National Guard. Over the years, I served both as an enlisted soldier and as an officer, deploying overseas and participating in combat operations multiple times. I retired from the Army in September 2023, completing a total of 33 years of uniformed military service.

The greatest adjustment after leaving the armed forces was the loss of the sense of comradeship that had been such an important part of my life. That loss is what led me to join our veterans’ organizations here in Bedford County. Many veterans experience the same thing, and it is one of the primary reasons involvement in these organizations is so important. They provide a place where relationships can be rebuilt, experiences can be shared, and support can be found. They also give veterans meaningful ways to give back to each other and to our community.

I believe I received more intangible benefits from my service than I could ever repay. Being involved in the veteran community allows me to support the men and women who served beside me and gives me the opportunity to give back to the community and country that supported my family and me throughout our lives.

What I want my neighbors to know is that veterans are ordinary people who have had extraordinary experiences. We have traveled the world, faced challenges, and gained knowledge and perspective that stay with us for a lifetime. We want to use that experience to benefit Bedford County.

Unfortunately, the media and entertainment industries often portray veterans—especially combat veterans—as broken or unable to adjust to civilian life. Nothing could be farther from the truth. We are your neighbors. We live next door and down the street. We go to work, raise our families, attend your churches, and contribute to our community every day. We are not "boogeymen” or "boogey women.” We are part of the fabric of Bedford County.

Our veterans’ organizations are a wonderful place to get to know us. Everything we do is open to the public. You do not have to be a veteran to attend our monthly community breakfast or enjoy the music at our monthly music night. We invite you to come, meet us, ask questions, and help us support our veterans. And if you are a veteran, we welcome you to join our organizations.

Most importantly, we want to be positive role models in Bedford County and demonstrate that the ideals and values we defended during our service remain just as important today as when they were first established.

We look forward to continuing to serve our veterans and Bedford County in the future.