Editor’s Note: The following article was prepared by journalism students at Caribou High School. The County and the school are collaborating to present the work of these aspiring journalists.
More than 30 years after walking the halls of Caribou High School, Mark Holmquist returned to where his journey began — this time not as a student, but as a decorated veteran and former member of the U.S. Army’s elite Old Guard.
Holmquist, who stood watch over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery between 1992 and 1993, spoke to students about the values he learned throughout his childhood in Caribou and how those values helped lead him to a position in one of the most prestigious units in the nation.
Shortly after graduating from Caribou High School, Holmquist attended basic training at the age of 17 in the extreme heat of Fort Benning, Georgia, with the vision of becoming a full-fledged soldier. On day three of basic training, however, Holmquist was offered the opportunity to join the Old Guard — one of the most elite military units in the world.
He accepted and was sent to Washington, D.C., with a small number of other recruits to tour the nation’s capital and Arlington National Cemetery. It was there Holmquist saw the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, along with the sentinel stationed outside, and he knew that he wanted to become a tomb guard.
(Courtesy of Caribou High School Journalism Class)
“This soldier impacted me so much that I wanted to become a tomb guard. I wanted to do it like…tomorrow,” Holmquist recalled.
To become one of these elite soldiers, a person must endure six to nine months of rigorous training with an attrition rate of 90%, but Holmquist was committed and didn’t let anything stop him from achieving his dreams. His story about the commitment and sacrifices required to become a tomb guard was particularly fascinating to students.
Isaac Goodwin, an eighth-grade student at Caribou High School, said his favorite part of the day was “seeing what it’s like to be a tomb guard.”
Holmquist became a guard but didn’t stop there. He returned home to northern Maine in 1993 to pursue higher education at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. After four years, he obtained a bachelor of arts in behavioral science and an associate of arts in criminal justice.
In 1997, Holmquist began working as a Maine State Police trooper, taking up many different leadership positions throughout his law enforcement career. He became Scarborough’s police chief in December 2021, where he has worked to keep the community safe.
Holmquist credited his teachers, coaches, family and community members for teaching him strong values at a young age.
“The values that you learn here will take you to a lot of different places that you may not realize now,” he said.
Holmquist spoke to students about the standard of perfection among sentinels, even during harsh conditions. They must endure all weather while standing watch, he said, noting that the Unknowns have never been left unprotected since 1948.
This lesson of dedication came up later in the day during a tour of the Caribou Veterans Cemetery. Holmquist and the students were guided by Caribou Veterans of Foreign Wars Post Commander Roger Felix. Under a steady rain and bitter cold, they paid their respects and witnessed firsthand the importance of dedication to the known and unknown soldiers.
The experience was even more special for Kenzie LaBreck, an eighth grader at the high school, who said she enjoyed “going to the cemetery to see my uncle’s grave with all the other veterans.”
Kim Barnes, eighth grade teacher at Caribou High School, helped coordinate the event with Holmquist, her former classmate. Scott and Laurie LaFleur, owners of the Caribou Best Western Inn, sponsored the event, she said.
“Their kindness and community spirit made this experience possible,” Barnes said.
The event was designed to help students learn the importance of honoring veterans and their sacrifices.
“The best way to honor veterans is to listen to their stories to understand their experiences and reflect on the sacrifices they made. Acts of remembrance, like attending ceremonies and writing letters, show respect and keep veterans’ lessons alive,” Barnes said.
That mission aligned closely with Holmquist’s own goal for the day. He hoped to share with students “the respect of cost and honor,” he said.
