Military trailblazer Captain Rosemary Mariner of Anderson County was buried Saturday at New Loyston Cemetery in Maynardsville. She died January 24 at the age of 65, following a long battle with ovarian cancer.

The Texas native and 24-year Navy veteran lived a career of firsts, including being the first woman to command an operation air squadron, and being one of the first women ever to pilot a tactical jet.

During Operation Desert Storm, Mariner commanded Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron Thirty Four. Over the span of her career, Mariner logged nearly 3,500 flight hours in more than a dozen aircraft.

Mariner also lectured at the University of Tennessee’s history department for 14 years in Knoxville and was a visiting fellow with the Center for the Study of War and Society.

As she was laid to rest Saturday, another historic first took place in her honor. The Navy held its first-ever all-female flyover at her funeral – officially referred to as the ‘Missing Man Flyover.’

Four fighter jets flown by women offered an aerial tribute to the pioneer and legendary military leader.

“She was very proud of the fact that women followed her and that she wasn’t the only one to walk through that door,” widower Tommy Mariner said. “That legacy shows that door stayed open.”