Marked Tree Road resident Robert Hopkins has been selected by this year’s Memorial Day Committee to serve as the parade marshal for the annual Memorial Day Parade.

Married to his wife Shirley, Hopkins has two sons, Randy and Garry along with four grandchildren and three great grand kids.

Hopkins has served as a past commander for the Leonard D. Chesmore Post 8507, VFW and as the Senior Vice Commander at the American Legion Post 47.

Retired, Hopkins would find himself 75 years ago in Tsingtao China as a young marine having joined the military at the age of 17 towards the tail end of WWII.

In a supply unit, Hopkins outfit was responsible for repatriating Japanese POW’s back to Japan. “I can’t believe that was 75 years ago”, Hopkins lamented at his interview.

After being electrocuted due to faulty wiring, Hopkins was ushered out of the military in Boston in 1947.