The first show back in the studio since COVID-19 started. Includes great interviews with Dawn Siegel, the Executive Director of Saving Grace Women’s Home in Florida and with Wayne Harris, candidate for Okaloosa County Commissioner District 1. Hosted by David Triana and Paola Connor, this show also introduces two new members to the team, Carolina Fierro for Upcoming Events and Falvia Mosci, Conexion’s new Brazilian correspondent.
The full Wayne Harris interview can also be viewed below.
Recorded in the Emerald Coast TV studio at the Landmark Center in downtown Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
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Niceville Police “K9 Officer Blue” Memorial Service – August 26, 2022
Watch the HD Replay of the “End of Watch” ceremony for K9 Officer Blue, scheduled for August 26, 2022 at the Northwest Florida State College’s Mattie Kelly Arts Center at 10am CST.
Northwest Florida State College
Mattie Kelly Arts Center
100 E College Blvd, Building 100
Niceville, FL 32578 -
Inaugural ODA 595 Horse Soldiers Reunion 2022
On October 22, 2022, the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce hosted the Inaugural ODA 595 Horse Soldiers Reunion at the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds. Ted Corcoran, CEO of the FWB Chamber, was Master of Ceremony.
Below is a replay video of the event. If you have a Smart TV, search for and install the VidFlow app to watch this video on your big screen TV. This video player also also you to select chapter points to specific speakers and presentations.
Ten of the original 12 members of ODA 595 were in attendance for this inaugural reunion event.
Captain Mark Nutsch – Detachment Commander
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Bob Pennington – Assistant Detachment Commander
Master Sergeant Paul Evans – Team and Operations Sergeant
Sergeant First Class Andy Marchal – Intelligence Sergeant
Sergeant First Class Steve Kofron. – Weapons Sergeant
Staff Sergeant Mike Elmore – Weapons Sergeant
Staff Sergeant Chad Jacklet– Engineer Sergeant
Sergeant First Class Steve Bleigh—Medical Sergeant
Sergeant First Class Vince Makela – Communications Sergeant
Staff Sergeant Will Summers– Communications Sergeant
Not in Attendance:
- Staff Sergeant USAF Steve E. Tomat – Tactical Air Control Party (TACP)
- Staff Sergeant USAF Joseph Matt Lienhard– Air Force Special Operations Combat Controller from Special Tactics Squadron
Several prominent guest speakers included Florida House District #4 representative Patt Maney, former CIA Directorate of Operations officer Alex Hernandez, former USAF Chief of Staff for a Theater Special, retired Col Glenn Thomas, and the son of Doolittle Raiders Col Dick Cole, Richard Cole.
A special commemorative canteen cup was created by the Bohlin Company and presented to each member of ODA 595 in honor and recognition of their heroic actions in America’s first response against the Taliban after the 911 attack.
This event was made possible through the support of several local community sponsors.
If you are interested in learning more about ODA 595 as well as other stories about America’s 1st response to the 911 attacks, check out these sources:
First Casualty by Toby Harnden
Horse Soldiers by Doug Stanton
Swords of Lightning – Green Beret Horse Soldiers and America’s Response to 911
12 Strong – The Declassified True Story of the Horse Soldiers
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2023 FWB Veterans Day Ceremony
Live from the American Legion Post 235 on Hollywood Blvd, Fort Walton Beach, Florida on November 11, 2023, 11AM.
The Veterans Tribute Tower Committee is pleased to host the traditional Veterans Day Ceremony. The guest speaker is Brigadier General Jeffrey T. Geraghty, Commander of Eglin AFB and the 96th Test Wing.
During this Veterans Day and joint Remembrance Day Recognition we will welcome the participation of British Royal Navy Commander Chris Wilcox, and members of his command and their families stationed at Eglin Air Force Base.
Over 1800 Veterans are laid to rest at Beal Memorial Cemetery and we thank the Cadets from Fort Walton Beach High School’s Air Force JrROTC for their support with color guard duties and for rendering military honors as they place flags on Veteran’s final resting places.
During the Ceremony we will recognize our Veterans and local POW, the late Brigadier General George E. Bud Day, as well as MIA, 1966 Choctaw Graduate, Special Forces Staff Sergeant, Fred Gassman. We will also remember the life and work of Tuskegee Airman, the late Chief Master Sergeant, Walt Richardson.
We will also welcome Mr. Reid Soria from Autism Sings with the National Anthem.
Students from Liza Jackson School for the Pledge of Allegiance, Gregg Chapel Pastor, the Reverend Cecil Williams, with the Invocation, and Salvation Army Officer, Lieutenant James Milner with the Benediction.
It will be our honor to recognize the newest member of the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame, Vietnam Navy Veteran and retired Air Force Colonel, former medical officer of the 919th Special Operation’s Wing, Dr. Gerald Hollingsworth. Dr. Hollingsworth has been selected by the Florida Governor and Cabinet and will be formally inducted on November 14th In Tallahassee, Florida.
Attendees will have the opportunity to place floral bouquets in the community wreath during the ceremony. As a reminder, reading of the names of the departed will be done during the Memorial Day Ceremony in 2024.
For more information, please contact Tom Rice at the Magnolia Grill, 850-302-0266.
