Merrick's Memorial Day 2016 Grand Marshal, Peter A. Holmstedt

Peter A. Holmstedt

Peter A Holmstedt, age 72, was born in Washington D.C. At the age of 17 he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served 3 years in the service from 1961 to 1964, the years he served were during the beginning years of the Vietnam Conflict. He enlisted in the military as a way for advancement, to try something new and to be independent in his life. The military provided for him discipline, punctuality, leadership skills, love of service for country and many other opportunities. Pete spent most of his military service state side, where he went to Boot Camp at Parris Island in South Carolina, then went to Camp Geiger in North Carolina, then Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, and was then sent to Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina. At Cherry Point, North Carolina, he handled the pumps for the rapid jet refueling systems for aircrafts. Pete left the service in 1964 with the rank of an E4 Corporal.

After his service in the United States Marine Corps, Pete got a job with Texaco (Oil Company) and spent the next 7 years, working his way through the corporate chain. In 1971 he purchased a Service Station, which became known as Holms Texaco. Today it flies a Mobil flag and is located 1776 Merrick Ave, Merrick.

Pete through his Service Station has provided numerous Fundraisers/Donations to local Merrick organizations. These organizations include the Camp Avenue Elementary School, the Merrick Post No. 1282, American Legion and the North Merrick Fire Department. The Fundraisers occur during the months of March, May and October respectively. During a Fundraiser, the service station provides a donation to an organization based on the number of gallons of gasoline pumped at their service station during a particular month at the rate of 1 cent per gallon.

Pete has been a Merrick Post American Legion member for 5 years and his Service Station has been running a Fundraiser during the month of May for the Merrick Post No. 1282, American Legion, for the last 6 years. Funds and donations raised at this event go to help veterans at the Northport and Stony Brook Nursing Homes and for numerous other veterans’ causes.

Pete has been married to his wife, Doris, for 50 years and has 2 children and 5 grandchildren. His workers at the Service Station seem to have a good working relationship with him and many of his employees have been working for him for many years. He likes to go kayaking, but a gets a big kick out of raising his Boxer dogs that he has owned over the past 44 years. Each of his dogs that he has owned is brought to a training school. His current Boxer, named Sophie, spends time at the Holms Service station, so if you drop by the station you might see her there.

Lastly, Pete plans to retire soon to Washington State (where his son lives) to buy a farm out there and he wants to raise Black Walnut Trees on the farm so that his grandchildren and their children can harvest the wood on the farm produced by these trees. He says, “Retirement is a new phase in my life in which to try something new, to still keep active, to keep the mind sharp and have purpose in life”.