Masonic lodge honors veterans and fallen Burnet soldier
Honor guard and officials from Fort Hood visited Burnet for a ceremony honoring veterans and fallen U.S. Army captain Jason E. Holbrook. Pictured here are two members of the 1st Cavalry Honor Guard (left), Teresa Holbrook, Stoney Holbrook, Elaine Holbrook, U.S. Army Col. Katherin Leidenberg, Col James Leidenberg, and two more members of the honor guard. Courtesy photo from Valley Masonic Lodge #175 of Burnet
Valley Masonic Lodge #175 of Burnet held a Veterans Day program on Saturday, Nov. 8, honoring all veterans, but also ceremoniously honoring a fallen Burnet soldier and his family.
Veterans Day is Tuesday, Nov. 11. The federal holiday always falls on Nov. 11, regardless of the day of the week.
U.S. Army Capt. Jason E. Holbrook, 28, died on July 29, 2010 after suffering mortal wounds from an improvised explosive device while serving in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. He was a graduate of Burnet High School and the United States Military Academy, better known as West Point. He also completed the Special Forces Qualification Course and went on to become a green beret and Army ranger. He was awarded a bronze star, a purple heart, and a meritorious service medal.
During the Veterans Day program on Saturday at the Masonic Lodge, 311 S. Main Street in Burnet, Holbrook’s family was presented with framed photos of him and a wreath from the Wreaths Across America organization by members of the 1st Cavalry Division Honor Guard and two of his former classmates from West Point.
The wreath will be placed on his grave for National Wreaths Across America Day on Dec. 13. The organization creates the wreaths using clippings from a special section of forest in Jonesboro, Maine, where thousands of trees are adorned with dog tags in remembrance of fallen U.S. service members.