November 2020 Veteran of the Month: Robert Timmons
Military Service
Food Service Specialist and later Military Intelligence Specialist in the U.S. Army. Left the Army in 2012 after seven years of service as a Sergeant (E-5).
Agriculture Service
Vice president of the Veteran Garden Project, a St. Augustine nonprofit that supports the healing of veterans through gardening and growing organic food to feed their local community.
Biography
Robert Timmons is an Army veteran and vice president of the Veteran Garden Project. He was born and raised in St. Augustine, Florida. He joined the Army in 2005 and started out his military career as a Food Service Specialist at Camp Casey, South Korea. He then moved on to Ft. Gordan, Georgia, where he served as the driver for the brigade commander. In 2007, Robert reclassed as a Military Intelligence Specialist and deployed with a military intelligence team to Afghanistan in 2007–2008. In 2012, Robert medically retired from the Army and returned to St. Augustine.
Robert and his wife, Crystal, founded the St. Augustine nonprofit Veteran Garden Project to promote post-military healing and to help veterans transition after their military service. The organization promotes this mission through the holistic healing of veterans with garden therapy. As vice president of the Veteran Garden Project, Robert plans and manages building projects and assists in educational initiatives.
The Veteran Garden Project has installed nine organic gardens since 2018, and it is currently working to install two new garden projects by 2021. Before the COVID-19 situation the organization met regularly for potlucks, volunteer meetings and educational workshops. Its operations have slowed down due to COVID-19, but it is continuing to move forward with its mission to promote healing for Florida veterans.
Robert’s military awards include four separate Army Commendation Medals and a Combat Action Badge. He holds a certificate in nursery management and landscaping design from First Coast Technical College.
