Barbara Thomas has many wonderful memories of watching her son Capt. Mark "Pitbull" McDowell playing soccer at the South Iredell High School stadium.
In the fall of 2000, she stood on the field with her son and her husband for Senior Night. That was the season McDowell played with his hand in a cast to ensure he qualified for the U.S. Air Force Academy, she said.
The presentation of the banner in memory of Capt. McDowell from the South Iredell High School varsity soccer team, the athletics boosters and parents before the game against Newton-Conover on Wednesday was a different kind of experience for her family.
"It's nice to be back, and it's a bit bittersweet," Thomas said. "This is what Mark loved. I remember him being (named) most valuable player. Wherever the ball was, that seems to be where Mark was. This brings back wonderful memories."
The banner will stay up through the remainder of the Vikings' football and soccer seasons.
McDowell, 26, and Weapon Systems Officer Capt. Thomas J. Gramith died July 18 in an F-15E crash near Ghazni Province, Afghanistan.
Family and friends attended McDowell's funeral Oct. 15 at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
Thomas said McDowell's wife Katie wanted to wait until the squadron returned from its deployment.
The family has come up with a number of ways to keep McDowell's memory alive.
South Iredell Athletic Director Bobby Deal said McDowell's family approached the school about ways they could honor his memory, and now a foundation in McDowell's honor is being set up.
A scholarship fund is planned at South Iredell for a student graduating in 2011, and the family is hoping to help create a practice soccer field complete with a statue of McDowell.
Longtime childhood friend Walt Hitchcock said McDowell was smart and a fierce competitor.
Schoolwork seemed to come natural to him, Hitchcock said. Thomas said her son graduated with a 4.0.
"He was everything you wanted in a friend and a person," Hitchcock said.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement