Local barber honors military, emergency personnel

Donnie Crockett with a painting of his son Clay and granddaughter. Clay is a Marine serving in Iraq.

By BOBBY HORN JR.
HIGHLANDS—How do you say ‘thank you” to the fire fighter or police officer who puts their life on the line to help those whom they may have never met? How do you say “thank you” to that young soldier who stands guard thousands of miles from home who says “sleep well tonight, I will protect you?”
One local barber is doing his part to say ‘thank you.’
Donnie Crockett, himself a veteran of the U.S. Army (1977-1981) offers free hair to firefighters, police officers and members of the military at his shop on Garth Road near the new El Toro Mexican Restaurant.
A barber for the past 16 and a half years, Crockett began this service five years ago on the first anniversary of the 9-11 attacks.
“It really struck me,” he said. “To see those fire fighters and police. They’re laying it on the line and it just seemed like the right thing to do.”
Crockett holds a special place in his heart for those in the military. His brothers served in the Navy and Army and his father was a member of the National Guard. Another relative, he said, was a marine aviator during World War II and a member of the squad that sank the first Japanese battleship at Wake Island.
Then there is his son. Crockett’s son Clay is a Marine who works as a K-9 specialist in the military police. He is currently on assignment in Iraq.
“Anyone who puts their life on the line deserves our thanks,” he said.
Crockett lives in Highlands and, for the past 13 years, operated a barber shop in Pasadena. Eight months ago he moved to the Garth Road location.