One Veteran’s journey from homelessness to honored caretaker
Finding stability and meaning through work that serves others
For James Barger, joining the Air Force at age 18 seemed like a way to build a future and see the world beyond the small town in East Tennessee where he grew up. Inspired by his grandmother, who worked as a civilian switchboard operator for the Air Force during World War II, Barger enlisted in 1995 shortly after high school.
After serving four years in the Air Force, he returned to Tennessee and used the GI Bill to attend East Tennessee State University. But like many communities across the South during the early 2000s, East Tennessee was deeply affected by the opioid epidemic. Addiction, combined with the 2009 recession, created a cycle of instability that eventually left Barger at risk of homelessness.
The opportunity that changed everything
Everything started to change when Barger decided to get sober.
He connected with the social worker through VA Mountain Home Healthcare System’s Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program, which introduced him to the Cemetery Apprentice Program (CAP) administered by the VA National Cemeteries Authority (NCA). The program is designed to train future cemetery caretakers while creating employment opportunities for veterans facing homelessness or housing instability.
“This was music to my ears,” Barger said. “I was stuck. I didn’t have a college degree, the economy was failing, and suddenly there was an opportunity to become a janitor at a national cemetery.”
Barger joined CAP in 2012 as part of one of its first cohorts. He soon took pride in learning how to place headstones, maintain a cemetery and maintain national standards of sanctuary for veterans and their families.
In 2013, during his graduation ceremony in Washington, DC, he was chosen by his class to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, an honor that reflects the respect he has earned from those around him.
“Being a pallbearer is one of the most honorable things one can do … to lay a veteran to rest in a dignified and respectful way,” Barger said.
Finding Purpose in Honoring Veterans and Their Families
Over time, Barger’s compassion, professionalism and strong customer service skills helped him advance from cemetery custodian to cemetery technician and eventually to cemetery representative, where he discovered a passion for helping grieving families. Today, he is training to become a director at the NCA after more than a decade in administration.
“Getting hired is not limited to financial compensation,” he said. “It helps a person develop their social and problem-solving skills every day, and it’s a great feeling to go home after a hard day knowing you’ve been given the opportunity to learn and grow.”
Barger believes compassion and empathy are essential to this job. Some of the moments that stick with him the most are those he spent comforting grieving spouses and family members.
“We only have one chance to get this right for families,” he said.
A message to other veterans
Barger hopes his story will encourage other veterans experiencing homelessness or addiction to seek help.
“I just want veterans to know that they can do it,” he said. “All they have to do is reach out to the VA. There are opportunities.”
Looking back, Barger says CAP gave him more than just a career. It gave him purpose, mentors, stability and a chance to grow into the person he is today.
“This job is a gift from the Lord. He has blessed me,” Barger said. “This is about his will, not mine. I just want to be a good steward.”
