King George cemetery creates Garden of Honor for Veterans

Robert Holmes stood in a cemetery on Monday as American flags billowed in the breeze, but he and the crowd around him weren’t there for a funeral.

Instead, more than 60 people gathered at Historyland Memorial Park in King George County for the unveiling of a Garden of Honor dedicated to veterans.

And Holmes, a sprightly 95-year-old who still climbs on roofs or down into wells to make repairs, was chosen to symbolize all those who have served in the military.

He was touched that David Storke, director of Storke Funeral Home, had done as Holmes regularly advises his large family, to “give me my flowers while I’m living.”

“I’ve been to a lot of funerals in my day, and all those good things were said to people when they were lying in the casket,” Holmes said. “David decided for some reason to give me mine while I was on this side of the tomb, and you don’t know how much I appreciate it.”

Historyland is the final resting place for 245 veterans, and in recent years, there’s been a growing demand for a section dedicated exclusively to servicemembers, said Emily Mitchell. She’s the funeral home’s family services counselor, and she got choked up as she read about the “heartfelt thanks and utmost respect” being paid to veterans that day.

Storke decided to set aside a plot of land that faces U.S. 301 for 480 interments, including the double-depth grave spaces for veterans and their spouses as found in national cemeteries.

The cemetery plots, either for caskets or interred remains, are free for veterans and discounted for their wives or husbands, Storke said.

A committee that worked on the Garden of Honor wanted to include a granite monument with the oath taken by all who join, and personalize it in honor of one King George veteran, Storke said.

Committee members came up with a long list of qualified people, but quickly decided that Holmes fit the bill. He served in the Army’s 11th Airborne Division during the Korean War as the military was desegregating, and he represents “what it means to serve this country with honor, compassion, dedication and obedience to God,” stated the program.

It included a biography of Holmes, written by Cindy Miller, a King George historian and genealogist.

“This lifelong, well-loved King George County resident was an exceptional soldier in spite of extremely difficult circumstances,” she wrote. He “is a friend to many and prominent leader in his church and the community.”

She escorted Holmes to the front of the crowd, although Holmes was so brisk and surefooted, he didn’t need to hold on to anyone. In front of him stood a granite obelisk, imprinted with the military oath.

To the left, on the ground, was a plaque with his name and division, and his footprints etched into stone. His right handprint was on the marker, at the height it would be if it were raised.

“It’s symbolizing standing at attention with your feet at that angle and having your right hand raised as you say those words,” said Janice Rogers, a retired Marine and one of several Holmes children who served in the military.

Holmes and his late wife, Joan, had eight children — six are living — and four were able to attend the event along with several of his 13 grandchildren. Holmes also has 21 great-grandchildren.

He was surrounded by fellow members of American Legion Post 329 of Dahlgren, looking sharp in black suits and ties, their legionnaire hats adorned with pins and insignias.

Just last month, Post 320 recognized Holmes for his service and his willingness to do whatever work was needed, said fellow member Sterling Bumbrey.

“He’s been a stand-up man at our post,” Bumbrey said, noting how nice it was for Holmes to get community-wide recognition. “It’s such a blessing, him being a role model in the county of King George.”

Many people, including Pastor Leonard Bland of Salem Baptist Church, referred to the honoree as Deacon Holmes. Bland called him a wonderful and gracious gentleman, an honorable deacon and man of God.

“To have other people say nice things and honor him in such a way means the world to us,” said Iris Williams, one of his daughters.

“Yes it does,” chimed in her sister, Leonora Williams. “It really does.”

Holmes credited his father, John B. Holmes, and older brother, James, for their words of wisdom. They told him to ignore the slurs and focus instead on being “the best soldier in the world.”

Robert Holmes was one of two men who volunteered to recruit Black soldiers to be paratroopers, led a weapons squadron and worked as a recruiter, in Kentucky and Alaska. He did a lot of training, including at jumpmaster school and on the infrared carbine rifle, and shooting straight never was a problem.

Holmes, who spent his whole life in King George except for his time in the service, learned lessons there that paid off in the military.

When he and his brothers went hunting, their father gave them three bullets and expected three squirrels in return.

“I’m a country boy,” he said in his biography, “and if you can’t shoot, you don’t eat.”

Cathy Dyson: 540/374-5425
Fredericksburg.com