[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Page 2885]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING ROBERT HODGES

 Mr. HELMS. Madam President, this past Friday, March 8, the 
Department of Veterans Affairs paid special tribute to Robert Hodges of 
Stonewall, NC, in a ceremony in Pamlico County where Mr. Hodges was 
officially recognized and honored as the Nation's oldest veteran.
  Family records disclose that Mr. Hodges was born June 18, 1891, 
confirming that he is almost 111 years old. The grandson of slaves, 
Robert Hodges grew up on a large farm; he began working when he was 8 
or 9 years old. Mr. Hodges was 27 when he volunteered to serve in the 
U.S. Army in 1918. As one of 237,000 African-American stevedores, he 
served 1 year in France.
  After his discharge, he returned to North Carolina and to his 
parents' farm. He married Malinda Boyd in 1924; eventually they saved 
enough money to buy their own farm. Along with their eight children, 
they continued to work the farm until failing eyesight caused him to 
retire in the 1950s, but he continued being an active member of his 
church, Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church, and his community.
  During his 111 years, he was aware of the first flight at Kitty Hawk 
and of Neil Armstrong's walk on the moon. There have been 20 U.S. 
Presidents during his lifetime.
  I was represented at this ceremony by Kelly Spearman, a very fine 
member of the Helms Senate Family. Mrs. Spearman presented Mr. Hodges 
an American flag which was flown over the Capitol in his honor.

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