POWERGRAMS

Mark Forester Foundation turns tragedy to educational opportunity Ray Forester's fingertips caress seven military medals, centered by a Purple Heart, won by his youngest child while fighting abroad for freedom a dozen years ago. He smiles through tears at four weathered crimson ball caps with a stylized "A" that Mark Forester wore into battle around Firebase Cobra in Afghanistan. A shrine in his boyhood bedroom holds his combat boots, helmet, American flag folded into a triangle at the funeral, the cherished red beret worn only by Special Forces airmen and a photo taken hours before "JAG 28" and his buddy Calvin Harrison perished within minutes of one another. There's another U.S. flag Mark wrapped each day around his body armor that came home with blood stains and a sniper bullet fragment. The mementoes and fond memories are all his parents have left from their war hero son who died far from home at 29. He was a University of Alabama graduate who completed a two-year Mormon mission in Oakland, California, followed by two years of intense training for one of the most important, yet difficult and dangerous jobs in the U.S. Armed Forces. It still hurts Ray and Pat Forester to talk about Mark. They laugh about all the good days leading up to the worst day of their life, Sept. 29, 2010, when they were suddenly burdened with overwhelming loss. Their family's faith – and Mark's – has provided solace. The love of friends – and strangers – has uplifted the Foresters. "We have people calling us all of the time, especially on Sept. 29," says Pat. "Some of his friends are still really close with us." And the nonprofit the family started soon after Mark's death has provided an avenue for their tragedy to help others. The first JAG 28 Birthday Walk was in 2011, followed in 2016 by the first Mark Forester Foundation (MFF) Charity Golf Tournament. Each continues annually to raise funds for the foundation, along with individual contributions and sales of MFF golf shirts and hats. Amazon users can designate the foundation to receive a percentage from their purchases. The foundation's $2,000 Price of Freedom Scholarship has been awarded to 28 Haleyville students, while other funding has gone to Haleyville High School, city parks and nonprofit veterans groups. Since 2013, the Combat Control Foundation (CCF) has given scholarships in Mark's name. The nonprofit honors the 475 controllers who have died in war since 1953, supports their families and has provided 40 scholarships of varying amounts to students nationwide who are children of controllers. The Mark Forester Scholarship is the only educational outreach program of the CCF. Ray and Pat are retired but continue working in the community, enjoying their 19 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, who all visit via the Senior Airman Mark A. Forester Memorial Drive that leads almost to the Foresters door in Haleyville. Each of their children other than daughter Terri Cox is employed in military-related fields. Joseph, an Air Force colonel, is an allergy immunologist at Eglin Air Force Base. David works at Redstone Arsenal. Thad, who has a popular podcast "Patriot to the Core," works for Lockheed Martin in Huntsville. In 2011, producers and crew of the "Coming Home" reality TV series filmed a segment in Haleyville about Mark, who was awarded the Bronze Star and Silver Star for valor for separate battlefield heroics within two months' time in 2010. "Mark is the only one they did who didn't come home," says Ray. National Geographic filmed a segment of "Eyewitness War" highlighting Mark's heroism. "Let me tell you something about Mark," says Ray. "They say he had almost a photographic memory. He would control 10 to 12 aircraft flying overhead. He knew all the coordinates, the speed of the aircraft, the altitude, from memory he knew all of the pilots' names." "He was very intelligent," Pat says. "The Air Force wanted him to go in as an officer …" "But he wouldn't do it," says Ray. "He wanted to be where the action was with the enlisted men." Mark Andrew Forester graduated at the top of his controller class and within months he was gone. His life story and many recollections by family, friends, fellow soldiers and officers are told in "My Brother In Arms," published in 2013 by Thad Forester with Matthew Glencoe. Proceeds from the book go to the foundation. Today it is hard to find a public place where Mark's portrait doesn't hang in Haleyville. People in his hometown have taken to heart his sacrifice and they continue to salute him. "He had the American flag wrapped around him when he was killed," Ray says proudly. The back of a commemorative medal struck in Forester's honor notes "The Price of Freedom" and sums up his convictions with the Bible verse John 15:13: "That a man lay down his life for his friends. No man can carry his love for his friend farther than this: for, when he gives up his life, he gives up all that he has." By Chuck Chandler 22 The road to Ray and Pat Forester's home is named for their son. They hold dear Mark's photos and other mementoes from his life.

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