Sandy Springs will honor military veterans with a free ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Byers Theatre in the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center.
The city’s announcement names Vietnam veteran Tommy Clack as keynote speaker for the 17th annual Veterans Day Tribute. The event is open to the public.
The program includes the North Springs High School JROTC Color Guard, patriotic selections by the Sandy Springs Middle School Choir, bagpipes and recognition of veterans by service branch.
Clack grew up in Decatur and volunteered for the Army in 1966. He served as an artillery forward observer with the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam and medically retired as a captain.
His Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame biography recounts that he lost three limbs after being wounded on May 29, 1969. He underwent 33 surgeries during his initial hospitalization and later graduated from Georgia State University with a degree in urban administration.
Clack went on to help veterans and their families obtain benefits through positions with the Atlanta VA and the Georgia Department of Veterans Service. His advocacy has earned more than 200 recognitions, including a Point of Light Award and induction into the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame.
Byers Theatre is at 1 Galambos Way.
Local volunteer’s recognition brings grant to Backpack Buddies
Separately, Sandy Springs real estate agent Debbie Sonenshine’s volunteer work has earned a $2,500 grant for Backpack Buddies of Metro Atlanta.
The National Association of Realtors recognized Sonenshine among five finalists in its 2026 Good Neighbor Awards. Its Nov. 8 conference recap describes a Nov. 7 celebration in New Orleans, where five winners and five finalists were honored. Winners received $10,000 grants for their charities; finalists’ organizations will receive $2,500.
Sonenshine, a Coldwell Banker Realty agent, serves as Backpack Buddies’ board secretary and helps lead fundraising through its development committee.
A September NAR profile reported that the nonprofit provides weekend food bags through schools, distributing nonperishable meals and snacks on Fridays.
At the time of that profile, the program reached more than 3,000 children each school week through 50 schools and approximately 35 community partners. It began four years earlier serving 750 children.
