The Town of Guilderland honored one of its own by dedicating a highway to Lt. Colonel Todd J. Clark.
Clark was a 17-year army veteran who was killed in 2013 while serving in Afghanistan as senior advisor to the Afghan National Army.
At a crowded ceremony held on Wednesday, July 15, family, friends and the civil servants who made the dedication possible were there to express their gratitude and sorrow for this fallen soldier.
“This is one more accomplishment, if you will, that I wish I never had,” said Clark’s father Jack, an army veteran himself.
Clark served five overseas combat deployments and earned numerous commendations, including the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He received the Purple Heart after suffering injuries from a 2010 explosion which he spent eight and a half months recovering from.
Even after sustaining these injuries, Clark felt a need to continue serving. According to Jack Clark on this decision, “He said, ‘I got to go back. This is what I have to do. I have to make sure that my soldiers do their jobs properly and are led properly.” He fought back tears as he gave a final thank you to the civil servants who made this tribute possible.
Clark is survived by his wife Shelley and children Madison and Todd, At the ceremony, the family received a replica of the sign that now stands at Route 126, as well as keys to the Town of Guilderland. They now live in Texas, but Supervisor Ken Runion gave the keys so the family knew that they are “always welcome to visit.”
In addition to having the highway named for him, Clark’s name is also remembered with the Lt. Colonel Todd Clark Memorial Flag Program.
“Five tours – I just can’t get that out of my head- five tours of service. That’s what I would think about when I was getting the bill together,” said Assemblywoman Patricia Fahey.
With the program, families who suffer the same loss as the Clark family did are given the American flags that flew at half-mast at the Capital in honor of their fallen soldier.
“It gives me great heart to make sure that this life is not forgotten,” said Fahey. Flags were formerly held in storage after being retired. She hopes that giving the flags to families offers them a “tiny bit of consolation” from the state that they did not receive before. She said the bill hits close to home because her own children are similar in age to Madison and Collin Clark.
Collin is also interested in joining the army, just like his father Todd and grandfather Jack did. Collin will be attending his father’s alma mater Texas A&M this fall and is looking into joining the college’s ROTC program.
“Whatever decision you make,” said Albany County Executive Dan McCoy to Collin, “I just want to say to you, Shelley and Madison, that we will remember him.” McCoy also served in Iraq as a member of the Army National Guard. He highlighted the sacrifices that families like his and the Clarke family make while their loved ones are away.
“The next few years will tough. But look around you,” he said, motioning to the full room lined by patriot guard members holding American flags, “He really touched a lot of lives, and they’re all here to support you.”
The bill for the highway renaming was signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo and by Sen. George Amedore. Members of Cuomo’s office were in attendance, as was Amedore, who added, “We are free and safe because of the efforts he has given us.”
Deaths such as Clark’s are difficult to understand. “Life is so inexplicable some days,” said Fahey, “but at least this life, it mattered so much and will be so remembered and so, so deeply honored.”
The ceremony means Clark will be remembered, not only by his family, but by the entire community.
