Norwood Airport Building Named In Honor Of Late Marine Major

NORWOOD, MA — The Norwood Airport Commission (NAC) voted on Dec. 20 to re-name a building at the airport after a retired Norwood marine who died in 2016.

The snow removal equipment/administration building was re-named in honor of U.S. Marine Corps Major Mark Welch, who died just shy of his 45th birthday. Welch grew up on Barberry Lane and attended St. Catherine’s School, before moving on to Xaverian High School in Westwood. Welch later graduated from U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1993. Welch's parents, Joe and Anita Welch still live in Norwood.

As a helicopter pilot, Welch served two tours in Iraq, with other assignments in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Kosovo. When serving closer to home, he was part of the first naval air attachment to
provide relief to Hurricane Katrina victims in 2005.

Over the course of his 20-year career, Major Welch received four Presidential Unit Citation awards for heroism, plus the National Defense Service Medal, Naval and Marine AchievementMedal and Kosovo Service Medal.

According to NAC Chairman, Mark Ryan, “The Major Mark C. Welch Administration Building
carries the name of someone we can all be proud of—a highly decorated helicopter pilot and
veteran, who also was a native son.”