Tennessee State...
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Tennessee State



State Symbols of the US
State Symbols, Emblems, and Mascots

US State Symbols

Tennessee Symbols
Tennessee Greeting: Tennessee's distinction as the home of country music is represented by an acoustic guitar in the foreground. Behind it is the night skyline of Nashville, the capital, and the Cumberland River that loops through the city, and in the distance are the Great Smoky Mountains.

Tennessee Symbols

Agricultural Insect,  Ambassador of Letters,  Amphibian,  Artist-in-Residence-2001,  Aviation Hall of Fame,  Beverage,  Bicentennial Poem,  Bicentennial Rap Song,  Bicentennial School Song,  Bicentennial Tree,  Bird,  Butterfly,  Commercial Fish,  Cultivated Flower,  Distinguished Service Medal,  Evergreen Tree,  Fine Art,  Flag,  Flag of the Governor,  Folk Dance,  Fossil,  Fruit,  Game Bird,  Gem,  Historian (Durhamn),  Historian (Dykeman),  Horse,  Insect (Firefly),  Insect (Ladybug),  Jamboree and Crafts Festival,  Language,  Mineral,  Motto,  Nicknames,  Painting (Tn Treasures,) Painting (Tn Treasures Too,) Pets,  Poem,  Poet Laureate,  Public School Song,  Quarter,  Railroad Museum (Tennessee Valley,) Reptile,  Rock,  Seal,  Slogan,  Song (My Homeland Tennessee,) Song (When It's Iris Time in Tennessee),  Song (Tennessee Waltz), Song (Rocky Top),  Song (Tennessee),  Song (The Pride of Tennessee),  Sport Fish (obsolete), Sport Fish,  Tartan,  Theatre,  Tree,  US Bicentennial March Song,  US Bicentennial Song,  Wild Animal,  Wildflower (Passion), Wildflower (Echinacea)
State Symbols Listing
official state symbols, emblems, and icons: amphibians birds, butterflies, fishes, flags, flowers, foods, fossils, fruits, gems, minerals, rocks, insects, mammals, animals, mottos, names and nicknames, reptiles, seals, shells, soils, songs, trees and more that represent the cultural heritage and natural treasures of each of the 50 US States.

 

Tennessee State Distinguished Service Medal

Created May 1979

The "Tennessee Distinguished Service Medal" was created in May 1979 by House Joint Resolution 239 of the 91st General Assembly. The medal was presented in a special ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery and placed on display in the Memorial Amphitheater. The display case is framed with wood from the tulip popular, Tennessee's state tree.

The following citation appears on the display: "This medal is hereby posthumously dedicated to the memory of all veterans of Tennessee who have given their lives in the defense of our nation and the Volunteer State."

Tennessee State Distinguished Service Medal

House Joint Resolution No. 239 created the "Tennessee Distinguished Service Medal." Tennessee felt that it was needed a way to honor fallen heroes that would be recognized at the national level. Arlington National Cemetery has a display of awards given from states to their native sons, and Tennessee felt that soldiers like Terry L. Smith, born on May 13, 1947 in Nashville, Tennessee, needed to be recognized in such a way. The resolution was passed on May 14, 1979. Ironically, the speaker of the House of Representatives of Tennessee at the time was Ned McWherter who was mentioned above as governor. The "Tennessee Distinguished Service Medal" that McWherter helped pass, was given, for the first time, to Terry.


US State Symbols
State symbols, emblems, and mascots represent things that are special to a particular state.
State symbols represent things that are special to a particular state.