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Passing of Ed Holmes one of the founding fathers of the St Andrews/Bayonne Bridgemen

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Benny Bass Drum

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Jun 11, 2003, 11:19:50 AM6/11/03
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The Following was written by Pat Forker Vice President of the
Bridgemen Organization:

Ed Holmes, the first Director of the Bridgemen Junior Drum and Bugle
Corps of Bayonne, NJ, died on Sunday June 8, 2003 at Brick, NJ
Hospital,
he was 76.
Ed served as Director of the corps from its inception in 1965 through
1978.
Under the course of his leadership, the St. Andrew's CYO Bridgemen
first
gained national prominence as a finalist at the 1970 World Open in
Lynn,
MA, and became the first junior corps to appear in competition at a
DCI
Finals in 1972. Ed retired from the rank of Director at the end of the
1978 season.

When Father Joseph Donovan of St. Andrew's Parish first proposed the
formation of the drum corps, he did not have to search very far for
the
right person to lead the effort. Ed was of the parish, literally
around
the corner, and having accepted the challenge did not realize at the
time the positive and profound effect he would have on hundreds of
young
boys and girls in the years to come.

He was a father figure to many, advisor and counselor to others, and
above all a true gentleman.

He would invariably mention at times through the years, that although
he
and his wife Irene had no children of their own, when asked, he would
simply state "We have 128 kids".

As one of those "kids", I can unequivocally state on behalf of all my
other Bridgemen siblings, that we loved this man, will miss his
presence, and
are eternally grateful that he was a part of our lives.

May the good Lord hold you forever in the palm of his hand, until we
meet again.

God bless Eddie Holmes!


Patrick D. Forker
St.Andrew's CYO/Bayonne Bridgemen
1969-1978

BSteinhilb

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Jun 11, 2003, 6:54:11 PM6/11/03
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Sorry to hear of the passing of Ed Holmes. Truly one of the good guys in drum
corps. He was really in it for the kids.
May God bless him and keep him.

stein

Jr liberty

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Jun 12, 2003, 1:05:13 AM6/12/03
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Stein:

By a very happy "God" incidence, Ed met a retired priest, Fr. Gerry
Marchand, a former member of the St. Vincent's Cadets, Bayonne, NJ, while both
were at a Physical Rehab center at the Jersey shore. They became fast
friends....Gerry anointed him while Ed was in the hospital, and will be
celebrating his funeral Mass tomorrow. Drum Corps was their "common
ground".....Makes one appreciate DC even more!

Fr. Jim Reilly

BSteinhilb

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Jun 12, 2003, 4:13:08 PM6/12/03
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>Gerry anointed him while Ed was in the hospital, and will be
>celebrating his funeral Mass tomorrow.

A comforting thought indeed for a man most deserving of it. Thanks for passing
that along Fr. Reilly

stein, OLPH

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