Watch the video recorded LIVE at the breakfast sponsored by Sam’s Club. Watch and learn about what’s happening around Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
The FWB Chamber’s First Friday Coffees are held at First Baptist Church’s Christian Life Center on 1st Street in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
See why the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce has been voted one of the top performing chambers in Florida and the country. To learn more about the chamber, visit their website or come experience one of their events. www.FWBChamber.org
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“The Battle of the Bulge” as Remembered by Lt Col Samuel Lombardo
“The Battle of the Bulge” as Remembered by Lt Col Samuel Lombardo
“The Battle of the Bulge” as Remembered by Lt Col Samuel Lombardo was recorded on January 28, 2019 the Fort Walton Yacht Club for the Military Affairs Committee, Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce. Lt Col Lombardo recounts his journey to America as a child and how the lessons learn then help him in WWII. Lt Col Lombardo will become a centenarian in July 2019.
Recorded by RJ Murdock, EmeraldCoastTV.com
Lt Col Sam Lombardo at Military Affairs Committee, FWB Chamber, 28Jan19
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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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66th Annual Billy Bowlegs Torchlight Parade – May 2022
The 66th Billy Bowlegs Torchlight Parade took place on May 16, 2022, on Eglin Parkway in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Hosted by the FWB Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Step One Automotive Group.
Bowlegs Parade 2022 Chapter Points
00:34 – Welcome Introduction
01:42 – Police Dept of Ft Walton Beach
03:22 – Mayor & City Council
05:40 – Run With It
06:19 – SOCKs
07:38 – Bridgeway Center, Inc.
08:13 – Carolyn N. Ketchel
08:42 – Neal Orthodontics
09:50 – World Class Pageantry
11:48 – I’am Kleen Sweep
13:33 – Okaloosa Republicans
20:48 – Okaloosa Donuts
21:35 – Step One Automotive
27:20 – The Island Resort
29:35 – Cumulus Broadcasting
31:44 – Miss Okaloosa County
32:42 – Nick’s Property Maintenance LLC
33:11 – Top Shelf Athletics
33:35 – Panhandle United Roller Derby
37:13 – Emerald Coast Permanent Make-Up
37:37 – T-Mobile
38:17 – AJ’s
39:25 – Fort Walton Beach Buccaneers
40:09 – Emerald Coast Harley-Davidson
40:44 – Krewe of Karibbean
41:36 – Krewe of Columbus
43:14 – Omni Broadcastng
43:51 – Krewe De Yak
44:22 – Navarre Krewe of Jesters
44:56 – Krewe of Airship Pirates
46:01 – Xtreme H2O Sports
46:40 – USAF Recruiting – Mary Esther
47:04 – Hot Head Burritos
47:34 – Krewe of Bowlegs -Children of the Court
48:11 – Krewe of Dominique York
49:32 – Krewe of Bowlegs – Captian Brocade
50:15 – Springtime Tallahassee
51:10 – Krewe of Bowlegs – Queen’s Pride
51:44 – Mayokis of Pensacola
52:53 – Krewe of Bowlegs – Past Capt Billys
53:35 – Matthew E. Turpin
53:52 – FWB Fire Dept
54:37 – Saint Paul’s Vulcan Krewe
55:52 – Captain Billy & Queen
56:20 – 66th Krewe of Bowlegs
57:47 – ClosingProduced by Emerald Coast TV.com
