Robert Starr, 92, thought he was just going outdoors for family photos while all the “kids” were in town for a visit Oct. 20. At least that’s what Catherine, his wife of 68 years, told him. Once outside his Caledonia home, the veteran of three wars saw his children — three sons and two daughters and families — which he expected. What he didn’t anticipate were the uniformed Mississippi Army Guard representatives marching toward him, carrying a special American flag.
“We all wanted him to be totally surprised, and he was,” said Bill Winters of Columbus, Starr’s son-in-law. “He said he was speechless, and that’s the first time we’ve known ‘the chief’ not to have a few words to say.”
Retired Chief Warrant Officer Starr served in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam War, a total of 37 and one half years of his life spent in service to his country. That was something his Caledonia community wanted to honor.
The idea of an honor flag presentation originated with Jerry Pounders. When asked why, Pounders responded, “One reason is because we get to do what we want to here. We’re a free country, and we wouldn’t be if we wouldn’t have had those kinda guys back then.” Jerry’s own father and father-in-law served during World War II. Jerry had two brothers who served in Vietnam.
“I don’t think there could be a better person it could be for,” Pounders said of honoring Starr.
When the Guard members began marching toward the senior veteran for the official presentation, “the tears went to rollin’,” Pounders remarked. Whose tears? “Everybody’s,” he said.
Pounders’ wife, Judy, helped organize the presentation. “It’s a beautiful sight to see — the surprise and the honor that he felt to know that other people were thinking of him and what he had done,” she said. “It was heartwarming to me to be able to witness that.”
Valiant service
Originally from Peoria, Illinois, the Starrs lived wherever the Army sent them: Madrid, Spain, the Panama Canal and several different states. Starr went on to earn the Legion of Merit, Combat Infantry Badge, three Bronze Stars, two Meritorious Service Medals and two Commendation Medals.
After retirement from the military in 1983, the couple “came in this direction,” Catherine Starr said. Some of their family were already living in the area, and the Starrs became valued members of the Caledonia township.
Surrounded by loved ones, neighbors and some community officials Oct. 20, Robert Starr was humbled. “I felt proud, proud that I was able to serve under my flag and proud to receive a flag. I’ve never had anything like that before. It was an emotional day — still is,” the veteran said Wednesday.
Starr is flying the new flag from the 20-foot flagpole in his front yard. “It lets everybody know we’re proud to be Americans.”
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.