The grand marshal for Carbon County’s veterans parade on Sunday will be Sergeant Major Mark D. Baylis, a retired U.S. Army Special Forces soldier whose commitment to service continued long after his military career ended.

Born in Morristown, New Jersey, Baylis entered the U.S. Army in February 1981, as an infantryman specializing in indirect-fire weapons. After completing his initial training, he served with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment before entering the Army’s Special Forces program.

Over more than 26 years of active-duty service, Baylis held numerous leadership and operational assignments with Special Forces units, including the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th Special Forces Groups.

His career took him to a range of demanding assignments around the world, and his combat service included Operation Just Cause in Panama and deployments supporting Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He also participated in demining operations in Cambodia, counter-narcotics missions in Colombia and Bolivia, and other overseas operations.

Baylis’ military education included Ranger School, airborne and military free-fall training, and advanced Special Forces courses. He earned an associate degree from Vincennes University and a bachelor’s degree in history and business from the University of the State of New York.

In April 2007, he was medically retired following injuries sustained in combat.

Yet retirement did not end his mission to serve others.

Baylis went on to found the VALOR Clinic Foundation, a Pennsylvania nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans who are homeless, at risk or struggling to regain stability. Drawing on his own military experience and his understanding of the challenges veterans can face when transitioning to civilian life, he helped build an organization focused on outreach, shelter support, food assistance, benefits navigation, peer support and connections to appropriate community and VA resources.

The foundation’s work reflects a commitment to helping veterans regain dignity, stability and independence. Its approach recognizes that service to the nation does not end when a soldier takes off the uniform.

As grand marshal, Baylis represents both the courage of those who serve in uniform and the continuing responsibility communities share to stand beside veterans when they return home.