The Miner: Holloway Salutes the Troops

‘We wanted to show our support for the troops and share it with the community’

EDITOR’S NOTE: Today, on Memorial Day, the Holloway team honors and thanks all who have served and sacrificed for our freedom — your courage will never be forgotten.

In honor of those who have served our country, Holloway is kicking off an occasional online series entitled “Miner Mondays,” where we’ll revisit the archives of Holloway’s “The Miner” newsletter, started in January 1987 for the California ag community.

The newsletter oftentimes focused on soil health, but as you can see from this April 1991 edition, Holloway dedicated The Miner to our troops, particularly those coming home from Operation Desert Storm.

Below is the full article, mailed to subscribers from Holoway’s then headquarters on Sixth Street in Wasco, Calif., highlighting our Salute The Troops event, where 500 people gathered for a flag-raising ceremony to welcome service men and women back from the Gulf with one of the largest flag displays in the Central Valley:

Agriculture Salutes the Troops

A cheer rose from the crowd as Old Glory unfurled in the morning breeze. It was a historic moment for H.M. Holloway, Inc., as one of the largest flags in the Central Valley was raised above the company’s headquarters in Wasco, California.

Nearly 500 people gathered for the flag-raising ceremony on President’s Day, February 18, 1991, to honor the brave troops serving in the Persian Gulf. Emotions ran high throughout the event—tears could be seen as the North High School Marine Corps Junior ROTC color guard marched by, the Wasco High School band and choir performed the national anthem, and the names of Wasco’s young men and women serving overseas were read aloud.

Assemblyman Trice Harvey addressed the crowd, praising the community for its unity and support. Kern County Supervisor Karl Hettinger presented a certificate of recognition to H.M. Holloway, Inc., commending the company “for exemplary public service and contribution to the community and Kern County.”

Wasco Mayor Mel McLaughlin issued a proclamation from the City Council, declaring February 18 not only President’s Day, but also “a day honoring all Wasco citizens serving in Operation Desert Storm.”

Al Holloway, chairman of the board and grandson of company founder H.M. Holloway, spoke about the origins of the flag and the gold-plated eagle atop its towering pole.

“We originally purchased it for our country’s bicentennial, but were unable to use it at that time,” he said. “Since then, it’s been in our vault, waiting for the right moment. I can’t think of a better time than this!”

Arnold Johansen, president of H.M. Holloway, served as master of ceremonies. Pastor Wayne Montgomery of Christ Community Church gave the invocation.

“We wanted to show our support for the troops and share it with the community,” said Johansen.

For Rich Lytle, vice president and marketing manager, the event carried even more weight.

“This shows that people in agriculture are really supporting the troops,” he said.

Despite facing challenges of their own—such as a winter freeze and an ongoing drought—local agricultural families came together to put those concerns aside for a few hours in support of a greater cause.

Following the ceremony, more than 400 hot dogs, chips, and sodas—donated by H.M. Holloway—were served by Wasco’s Boy Scout and Cub Scout troops. The company also handed out flag pins and corsages for mothers with children serving in the Gulf.

Among those family members was Theresa Ellison of Wasco, who had founded a local support group for relatives of deployed troops.

Welcome Home

As troops began returning home from active duty in the Gulf, the company offered a heartfelt message: “Welcome home!”

Wasco residents serving in the Gulf included:

Bruce Ellison, Brooks M. Pearson, Ben Hildebrand, Danny Lewis, Angela Martinez, John Hendrickson, Enrique Gonzales, Ronald Gan, Henry J. San Miguel, Frank R. Lugo, Augustine Varela, Patrick L. Provencio, J.L. Garcia, Jr., David Ruiz, F.J. Fransham, Terry Garrison, Dusty L. Dunlap, Carroll H. Lewis, Hugo Alonzo Duarte, Gene Evaro, Henry Gonzales, Norman Watson, Jr., Juan Hinojosa, Joey Jimenez, Paul Loza, and Brian Martinez.

Read more from The Miner Archives here, and view the original edition of The Miner below: