The solemn occasion will take place on Friday, July 25, 2025. Sgt. Stillman's wife, Alina and their two sons, Aiden, 14, and Jackson, 12, will be in attendance.
"It's bittersweet and I think so because I wish he was here. I wish this were put in place when he were here," said Alina Stillman, Sgt. Jack Stillman's wife.
It's been seven years since ABC11 Eyewitness News sat down with the Stillman family and there are plenty of updates. Aiden is heading to high school this fall and Jackson will be a seventh grader.
"Finding new ways to interact. Just hanging out and having fun," said Jackson Stillman.
The boys are also now following in their father's footsteps in wrestling.
"For me, I've been playing a lot of sports," said Aiden Stillman.
Sgt. Stillman lost a courageous battle with stage 4 anaplastic large T-cell lymphoma. The family has been striving to make him proud. Stillman graduated from the Basic Leader Course in 2016 after earning the Iron Warrior Award, the Leadership Award, and he was named Distinguished Honor Graduate. This happened as Stillman was unknowingly battling cancer. He received a cancer diagnosis after graduation and passed away in January of 2018.
Alina often leans on her faith while wearing her later husband's bracelet. She looks to their 11-year-old husky Stella for support and focuses on spending time with the boys to help her cope on the day she doesn't feel like showing up.
"Even on my darkest days, because I've had plenty of those, I just remember the fight he put up and his will to continue to fight,' she said.
Fort Bragg announced it will recognize Sgt. Stillman's extraordinary courage and resilience by dedicating the Noncommissioned Officer Academy Physical Training Field to him. His son Aiden has spent the past month rewriting what he hopes will be the perfect speech for his dad.
"We've written it more times than I can think of," he said. "I feel good because it's something dad would be proud of."
The Gold Star family enjoys spending time in its chicken coop. Alina said it teaches the boys how to be responsible and its something she believes Jack would be proud of.
"I think the boys get a lot of will and strength because they remember their dad. They remember the fight he put up," she said.