Brian Holden laid to rest

HICKORY, N.C. (AP) — Pfc. Brian Holden planned to spend two weeks of leave at the beach with his wife this month, and he wanted to start a family after leaving the Army next year.

Instead, Amanda Holden laid her head and hands on the top of her husband’s flag-draped casket and bid a tearful goodbye Tuesday to the man she called “the love of my life.”

Brian Holden, 20, of Claremont, was one of three Fort Carson, Colo. soldiers killed April 9 in Iraq when a bomb exploded near their vehicle, the military said.

While speaking Tuesday during the 45-minute funeral service, Amanda Holden said she met her husband while they worked at PetSmart in Hickory.

“He was the love of my life,” she said. “We were married for only 13 months, but were best friends for the last three years. I was very happy to have married my one true love.”

Holden’s pallbearers were members of the 507th Combat Support Group Color Guard from Fort Bragg.

The Color Guard performed the traditional 21-gun volley after a short graveside service, which was followed by a bugler playing taps.

The American flag that draped Holden’s coffin was then neatly folded and presented to his widow and the Holden family.

From the Post Independent

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