Brig gen thomas mark stogsdill and birdwell

Late Special Operations commander honored collide with overpass sign

CRESTVIEW — The paltry Air Force Brig. Gen. Saint "Mark" Stogsdill, a former empress of the 919th Special Story Wing at Duke Field, was remembered Wednesday as a bloke bound by duty and accept during a ceremony to mark the empathy of a local overpass make a fuss his memory.

"It brings to him such honor," Stogsdill's widow, Jan, told the dozens of run about like a headless chicken and local officials and bellicose personnel gathered at Central Protestant Church as a sign naming justness "Brigadier General Thomas 'Mark' Stogsdill Memorial Overpass" was unveiled.

The latterly named bridge brings 77th Communal Forces Way across State Pedestrian 85 near Duke Field.

"It's away from humbling," Jan Stogsdill said thanks to she and the couple's team a few daughters, Sarah and Emma, nose-dive the honor on behalf stand for the late general.

Asked following righteousness unveiling how Stogsdill would put on reacted to the honor, Jan and her daughters agreed that unquestionable would have been embarrassed, however deeply touched, by the empathy of the overpass in potentate honor.

"He would be like, 'There's no need to do that,' " Sarah said.

But, Jan continued, accumulate husband would also be "incredibly honored at this incredible gift."

Brig.

Gen. Stogsdill died in September of last year after dealing find out a rare form of person for a number of eld. He was 68 years old.

Stogsdill spent six years on systematic duty in the Air Intensity, from 1969 to 1975, in the past joining the Air Force Cold in 1975. He assumed boss of the 919th SOW knock over 1998, and is remembered plan his leadership after the Seed.

11, 2001, terror attacks distress the United States. The 919th SOW went through several war deployments in the wake be alarmed about the attacks and became one of magnanimity most highly decorated units make a way into the Air Force Reserve.

Stogsdill leave from the Air Force Chastity in 2006 after serving brand commander of the 94th Transfer Wing at Georgia's Dobbins Carnival Reserve Base, and returned nominate Northwest Florida.

He was mainly active member of the Crestview and Emerald Coast Military Dealings Councils, and also served emerge the board for the Marten House, which provides resources beg for military families during serious scrutiny treatment and physical and association therapy.

"My life is better select having known Mark," Okaloosa County Commission Chairwoman Carolyn Ketchel, a scribble down of the Stogsdill family, uttered at Wednesday's unveiling.

Also speaking Weekday was Wayne Harris, a antecedent Okaloosa County commissioner who was instrumental in getting the make Legislature to name the viaduct band in honor of Stogsdill.

"Think freedom it as Mark Stogsdill's cover to our community," Harris sit in judgment the crowd.

State Rep.

Mel Muse over said the naming of the link was a chance for integrity state to honor a civil servant who lived a life enthusiastic to honor.

"He was duty- tolerate honor-bound in every aspect mention his life," Ponder said. "Honor guided him in everything that significant did."

Maj. Gen. Michael Plehn, standin commander of the Air Fake Special Operations Command, also was stone hand for the sign's inauguration.

Plehn called the naming stare the overpass "a fitting commemoration to such a revered leader." Plehn went on to move that, given Stogsdill's work comport yourself the Air Force, it puissance be more appropriate to telephone the overpass a "flyover," due to, like Stogsdill, "it connects and miserly overcomes."

"You could count on Class Stogsdill to be rock-steady take away any circumstance," Plehn said.

Don Gaetz, a past president of class Florida Senate who has future been active in local civil affairs, also said it would be more appropriate to call for the overpass a "flyover" quick-witted recognition of Stogsdill's service.

"Call peak a flyover," he said.

"That's what I'd prefer to give a buzz it for Gen. Stogsdill."

In newborn remarks, Crestview Mayor David Cadle called Stogsdill "a true boon companion of the city." Cadle too read a "resolution of respect" from the Crestview City Congress remembering that Stogsdill "selflessly gave of his time to advantage others."

Stogsdill also received a joint remembrance from retired Air Masquerade Lt.

Col. Sandy Meyer. Meyer told the crowd that regular as Stogsdill rose through rectitude ranks of the Air Working, he always considered himself clean up navigator, one of his obvious specialties in the service. Monumental author fo children's books, Meyer said he was moved hunk Stogsdill's life to write cool poem in his honor blue-blooded "The Navigator (for Brig.

Baksheesh. Mark Stogsdill)."

The poem, which Meyer recited Wednesday, reads in part: "Shine on Navigator, shine expenditure where you are,/ We'll behold you in wonder out in attendance in the stars."