Sen. Kirk officially ends Navy service

WASHINGTON (WLS) -- U. S. Senator and Commander Mark Kirk officially retired from the Navy in a Pentagon ceremony in Washington on Monday.

Kirk served in the Navy Reserves for 23 years and was designated as a Navy Intelligence officer in 1989.

"At the heart and soul of my service has been my love for the United States Military, the greatest force for human dignity on earth. I have loved every day in the Navy, and serving has been one of the greatest honors of my life," Senator Kirk said.

Kirk's tours included the Office of Naval Intelligence, U.S. Southern Command Analyst for the Republic of Panama, USS Normandy (CG-60), USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74), Joint Chiefs of Staff Yugoslavia Task Force, Electronic Combat Squadron 209, Operation Allied Force (Aviana, Italy), Operation Northern Watch (Incirlik, Turkey), National Military Joint Intelligence Center, and Operation Enduring Freedom, International Security Assistance Force (Kandahar, Afghanistan).