Check out “The Story Behind the Story” event video for the 75th USAF Anniversary Community Celebration, which took place on September 13, 2022 at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville, Florida. This event celebrates the USAF military operations that were supported by both Eglin Air Force base and the Special Operations units of Hurlburt Field. Hosted by the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, this event provides two panels of service men & women who participated in several notable USAF operations, including operations in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Iran, Afghanistan, and the Obama Bin Laden Raid.

* Chapter points can easily be selected by watching this video directly on YouTube

00:00 Opening Video – USAF Aircraft Fly-bys
02:09 Official Welcome – Ted Corcoran
02:45 Posting of the Colors
03:33 National Anthem
05:35 Invocation
06:58 Event Overview
08:34 Introduction of Dale Dye
10:43 Dale Dye Movie Compilation Video
13:56 Eglin AFB Background History
14:51 Dr Devin Stephenson Introduction
17:35 Florida Representative Patt Maney Introduction
21:44 Recognition Distinguished Guests
23:01 JCOS Senior Enlisted Advisor Ramon Colon-Lopez Introduction
25:32 Recognition of Notable Local Veterans
26:57 Ted Introduces 1st Panel
30:13 Cindy Cole Chal (Doolittle Raiders)
48:29 Dale Dye Stories (Korean War)
1:13:05 Col Howard Hill (Vietnam War)
1:24:54 Col Larry Ropka (Sun Tay Raid)
1:38:17 Col Bill Keeler (Vietnam Refugees)
1:47:34 Sponsors Recognition & Jerry Williams EFCU
1:51:54 Introduction of 2nd Panel of Speakers
1:52:36 CMSgt Bill Walter – Operation Eagle Claw (Iran Hostage Rescue)
2:00:42 Lt Col Kirby Locklear – Operation Urgent Fury (Grenada)
2:08:35 Lt Col Corby Martin – Operation Desert Storm (Iraq)
2:19:06 Lt Col Allison Black – Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan)
2:27:24 The “MOAB” Story (Bill Walter)
2:29:05 Task Force Dagger & ODA 595 Horse Soldiers Event
2:30:49 Lt Gen Marshal “Brad” Webb – (Bin Laden Raid)
2:41:33 The Voices of NWFSC – America the Beautiful
2:47:02 The Air Force Song Sing-Along

EMCEE
– Ted Corcoran, CEO – Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce

SPONSORS
– Eglin Federal Credit Union
– The Boeing Company
– Northwest Florida State College
– Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce

THANKS TO
– Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce Staff: Seth Luttrell, Rachelle Graves, Dayna Stinebiser, Chrissy Flanigan, Debbie Dodge
– Mattie Kelly Arts Center Staff and Volunteers
– The Voices of Northwest Florida State College
– Air Force Public Affairs/Historians: Dawn Hart, Amy Nicholson, Shelby Pritchett, Jasmine Porterfield, Alan Landers

SCRIPT
– Bill Walters

LODGINGS
– The Island Resort;
– Holiday Inn Resort-Fort Walton Beach
– Hilton Garden Inn Fort Walton Beach

PROMOTION
– Frances Roy Agency

VIDEO PRODUCTION
– RJ Murdock, Emerald Coast TV

Relive the magic of the 2024 Fort Walton Beach Christmas Parade, which took place on December 2, 2024 on Eglin Parkway. Host by the City of Fort Walton Beach and emceed by Ted Corcoran from the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce and Mark Kilbride from Eglin Wealth Management (the parade’s broadcast sponsor).

The parade video will air on the local Cox Cable Channel 6 on:

• TDA

Parade Entries Timeline
00:14:04 Sponsor Welcome
00:04:44 Parade Welcome
00:05:30 1 – FWB Police Department
00:08:11 2 – Choctaw High School AF ROTC
00:11:34 City of Fort Walton Beach Staff
00:13:52 3 – FWB Library
00:14:37 4 – FWB High School AF ROTC
00:15:32 5 – Okaloosa County, Florida
00:16:33 6 – Marine Corps Toys for Tots
00:16:51 7 – Florosa Fire Control
00:17:28 8 – No Doubt Systems
00:17:55 9 – Trinity United Methodist Church
00:19:37 10 – Choctawhatchee HS Indianettes Dance Team
00:21:37 11 – Choctawhatchee HS Style Marchers
00:23:37 13 – Shalimar Athletic Association
00:25:18 15 – Okaloosa County Panhellenics
00:26:25 16 – Cinco Baptist Church and School
00:27:36 17 – The Honey Do Service
00:28:31 18 – Autism Awareness
00:29:18 19 – Bruner MS Sparklers Dance Team
00:29:52 20 – Bruner MS Cheerleaders
00:30:59 21 – FWBHS & Bruner Middle School Bands
00:34:32 22 – FWBHS Stars Dance Team
00:35:29 23 – FWBHS Cheerleaders
00:37:14 24 – Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Mary Esthe
00:38:04 25 – Silver Sands School
00:39:12 26 – Michles & Booth, P.A.
00:40:24 27 – Bridgeway Center, Inc.
00:40:42 28 – The Church at Shalimar
00:41:10 29 – Cumulus Media
00:42:25 30 – Boy Scouts of America Troop 544
00:42:47 31 – Cub Pack 510
00:43:17 32 – Forever Lawn Emerald Coast
00:44:23 34 – Hanks Lawn & Landscape
00:44:38 35 – Sandy Smiles Orthodontics
00:44:58 36 – Meigs Middle School Cheerleaders
00:45:21 37 – Meigs Middle School Goldenettes
00:45:40 38 – Fastsigns
00:46:22 39 – Ivanco, Inc.
00:47:13 40 – Dolphin Home Services
00:48:00 41 – Coastal Realty Services
00:48:36 42 – Hot Head Burritos Ft. Walton
00:50:49 43 – Walmart
00:52:32 44 – Air Medics HVAC
00:53:16 45 – Northwest Florida State College
00:54:01 46 – Waste Management of FWB
00:54:40 47 – Festival of Fears
00:55:31 48 – Liza Jackson Band
00:56:44 49 – World Class Pagentry Queens
00:57:30 50 – Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park
00:58:14 51 – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
01:00:07 52 – Boys & Girls Club of the Emerald Coast
01:00:23 53 – Brooklyn and Co.
01:00:42 54 – The Sleep Center
01:01:12 55 – Emerald Air Services, LLC
01:01:34 56 – FWB Woman’s Club
01:02:17 57 – Healing Paws for Warriors
01:03:50 58 – Idris Temple # 239, Prince Hall Shriners
01:04:40 59 – The Me Method
01:05:24 60 – Ohana Heating and Air, LLC
01:05:53 61 – Navarre Band
01:07:03 62 – Sonny’s BBQ
01:07:38 63 – Emerald City Gymnastics
01:10:12 64 – KM Cycle & Marine
01:10:56 65 – One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning
01:11:53 66 – Legendary Gutter Service, LLC
01:12:20 67 – The Panhandle Jeepettes
01:16:10 68 – H & B Army Navy Store
01:16:43 69 – Gulf Coast Baptist Church
01:17:19 70 – The Salvation Army
01:18:12 71 – Miss Okaloosa County
01:19:08 72 – Dr. Joel Rudman for Congress
01:19:37 73 – We Care A/C Plumbing & Electric
01:20:38 73 – Dino-Latino
01:22:28 75 – Chivas Academy of FWB
01:23:18 76 – Qintana Framing / Tachitos Mexfood
01:23:36 77 – Panhandle United Roller Derby
01:24:47 78 – Decks & Docks Company
01:25:18 79 – The Gathering Church
01:25:58 80 – Big Kahuna’s Water & Adventure Park
01:27:19 81 – House of Deliverance Church
01:27:49 82 – Anchored Renovations, LLC
01:28:44 83 – Ocean City Church
01:29:49 84 – FWB Buccaneers Youth Football & Cheer
01:30:16 85 – Okaloosa County School District Hope Squad
01:30:38 86 – Misfit Jeeps
01:32:28 87 – Knox Pest Control
01:33:14 88 – Facial Feature Enhancement Studio
01:33:47 89 – Omni Broadcasting 100.3 Krock
01:34:38 90 – Infinity Barber Shop & Salon
01:34:55 91 – Hollow Hill Tattoo Studio
01:35:11 92 – Uhaul
01:35:33 93 – Brookdale Fort Walton Beach
01:36:54 94 – Refit with Rene
01:37:42 95 – Street Predatorz FWB
01:41:10 96 – Children of the American Revolution
01:41:30 97 – Gallados Construction Group, LLC
01:42:27 98 – Calvary Chapel Fort Walton Beach
01:42:45 99 – Genisis Barber Institute
01:43:12 100 – Task Force Pizza, T&T Marine & Trailer, Jimmy’s Pontoons
01:43:41 101 – Lowe’s Home Improvement
01:44:15 102 – Ship Shoppe Niceville Pack and Ship
01:44:35 103 – Advanced Sacred Hope Academy
01:45:17 105 – Exchange Club of the Emerald Coast
01:45:42 106 – Lost Pizza Company of FWB
01:46:24 108 – Big Gus Tractor & Equipment
01:47:03 109 – Krewe of Columbus & Krewe of Bowlegs
01:49:51 110 – Santa

Video production by RJ Murdock with special thanks to on-location cameraman and field producer Wynn Rowand.