TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa is such an important military city. Right out of MacDill is both SOCOM, which oversees all special operations missions globally, and U.S. Central Command, which is responsible for U.S. security operations and is actively engaged in the war in Iran.
These are just a few reasons organizations that support veteran families wanted to have this ceremony in Tampa today. This ceremony is being put on by the nonprofit organization CRISP (Commitment, Respect, Integrity, Service and Pride).
“There are all kinds of things that are happening behind the walls of MacDill that are unfortunately difficult for the people of Tampa Bay to go and see and to experience,” said Ben Eason (CRISP). “So building those bridges between the base and broader community so we all really know what happens in Tampa is a really cool thing.”
Today’s ceremony will honor Gold Star Families, and it will also include the family of U.S. Army Reserve Major Cody Khork.
He was promoted to Major posthumously after he was killed on March 1st of this year while supporting Operation Epic Fury. This was during the retaliatory attack in Kuwait, just a day after the U.S. and Israel launched the initial strike on Iran.
Khork is from Winter Haven and received a “hero’s welcome” and was then laid to rest at Bushnell National Cemetery.
There are a number of ceremonies happening across the Tampa Bay area, and many are open to the public. The one closest to MacDill starts at 11 a.m. and will be at MacDill Park on Ashley Drive in Tampa. SOCOM Command Chaplain, Army Colonel Christopher Dickey, will be speaking as well as Mayor Jane Castor.