MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2010 2nd Extraordinary Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Mettetal, Albritton, Baria, Blount, Brown, Browning, Bryan, Burton, Butler, Butler (36th), Carmichael, Chassaniol, Clarke, Davis, Dawkins, Dearing, Dickerson, Fillingane, Flowers, Frazier, Gollott, Gordon, Harden, Hewes, Hopson, Horhn, Hudson, Hyde-Smith, Jackson (11th), Jackson (15th), Jackson (32nd), Jones, Jordan, King, Kirby, Lee (35th), Lee (47th), McDaniel, Michel, Moffatt, Montgomery, Nunnelee, Powell, Simmons, Stone, Tollison, Turner, Walls, Ward, Watson, Wilemon, Yancey

Senate Concurrent Resolution 503

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REMEMBERING THE GALLANT SERVICE AND MOURNING THE LOSS OF SERGEANT DAVID ALEXANDER HOLMES, JR., A NATIVE MISSISSIPPIAN FROM BATESVILLE, MISSISSIPPI, WHO DIED FROM WOUNDS SUSTAINED IN ACTION IN AFGHANISTAN ON JUNE 26, 2010.

     WHEREAS, Georgia National Guard Sergeant David Alexander Holmes, Jr., 34, a native of Batesville, Panola County, Mississippi, died on June 26, 2010, from wounds sustained in action when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device in Sayed Abad, Afghanistan; and

     WHEREAS, Sergeant Holmes was born on January 20, 1976, and grew up in the Batesville area.  He was a 1995 graduate of South Panola High School where he participated on the football team and was a member of the ROTC.  As a teenager, he worked at the Batesville Pizza Hut and was recognized as a talented artist.  His nickname "'D' Maine" was how he would sign his art work.  After graduation, he attended Ashford University pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice and attended Georgia Military College; and

     WHEREAS, Sergeant Holmes served his country in the U.S. Marines as a Corporal, served in the U.S. Navy as a Petty Officer 3rd Class, served in the U.S. Naval Reserves and later joined the Georgia National Guard.  He was assigned to the 810th Engineer Company out of Swainsboro, Georgia, and was deployed to Afghanistan in October of 2009.  He had been promoted to Sergeant on June 16, 2010; and

     WHEREAS, Sergeant Holmes and his wife, LaTonya, made their home in Sandersonville, Georgia, with their four children:  Daveion (almost 2), Tejuan (10), Shurissa (10) and ShuQuita (15).  He is the son of David Holmes, Sr., and Betty Holmes of Batesville, Mississippi, and is also survived by his siblings, Tina Holmes, Stephanie Wicks and Jessie Holmes, all of Batesville, Mississippi; and

     WHEREAS, carried by a National Guard Honor Guard, he returned to the family he loved and was buried with full military honors at the Georgia Veterans' Memorial Cemetery in Milledgeville, Georgia.  He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart Medal; and

     WHEREAS, since operations began in the War on Terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan, at least 75 soldiers or sailors with strong Mississippi ties have died in action; and

     WHEREAS, David Holmes was a loving husband and father who is counted among America's heroes, committed to our nation's safety and security.  To a country, a fallen soldier means a national loss; to a community, a fallen soldier means a true hero; to a child, wife or parent, a fallen soldier means a father, husband or son who won't be coming home.  Mississippians understand the costs of conflict, because we have paid them in the past; and it is with great pride and humility that we recognize the heroic action of this great American and native Mississippian, who was the guardian of civilization as we know it today:

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby remember the gallant service and mourn the loss of Georgia National Guard Sergeant David Alexander Holmes, Jr., a native Mississippian from Batesville, Mississippi, who died from wounds received in action in Afghanistan on June 26, 2010, and extend the thoughts and prayers to his family in honor of their sacrifice and our sorrow on his passing.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Sergeant Holmes and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.