Sidney Walton, who just turned 100 and is now one of America's oldest WWII vets, was born Feb 11, 1919 in NYC. He joined the Army in 1941, nine months before Pearl Harbor, to fight Hitler and rescue Europe. Little did he know in less than a year he'd be fighting to save the U.S. He served in the 34th infantry, 8th division, where he rose to the rank of corporal. He returned to New York City in 1946, after completing five years of service. He hopes that WWII, the most horrific war ever fought in the history of the planet, is the last world war.
Sidney regrets missing an historic moment to meet some of the last veterans of the Civil War. To make up for that regret, Sidney, with his son Paul, is visiting every state capital to meet all 50 governors and greet millions of patriotic Americans along the way. They spend one week touring each state.
On April 11th, Sidney and his family were honored to meet with the President in the Oval Office! (Video).
"As the Greatest Generation passes away, here is one last opportunity to thank Corporal Walton, a member of that generation who served our nation so nobly through its period of greatest need. Their contributions to our nation and to the preservation of civilization itself should never be forgotten." (RI House Resolution, 4/24/18).
Sidney celebrated his 100th birthday in New York on The Today Show (video) and on David Muir's ABC World News Tonight (video). He has also appeared on Fox & Friends (video).
TWENTY-THREE GOVERNORS HAVE ROLLED OUT THE RED CARPET FOR SIDNEY!!!
1. 4/24/18 - RI Gov. Gina Raimondo (appointed Honorary Brigadier General - video)
2. 4/30/18 - MA Gov. Charlie Baker (honored at Fenway) - article/video
3. 5/4/18 - ME Gov. Paul LePage - video
4. 5/10/18 - CT Gov. Dannel Malloy - video
5. 5/18/18 - NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo - video
6. 5/24/18 - NJ Gov. Phil Murphy - photo
7. 5/28/18 - IN Gov. Eric Holcomb (and Indy 500) - video
8. 6/11/18 - NE Gov. Pete Ricketts - video
9. 6/19/18 - TN Gov. Bill Haslam - video
10. 6/26/18 - KY Gov. Matt Bevin - video
11. 7/3/18 - IL Gov. Bruce Rauner (honored at Wrigley - video)
12. 7/11/18 - FL Gov. Rick Scott - video
13. 9/25/18 - AK Gov. Bill Walker - video
14. 10/5/18 - HI Gov. David Ige - video
15. 10/17/18 - WA Gov. Jay Inslee - video
16. 10/22/18 - OR Gov. Kate Brown - video
17. 12/11/18 - LA Gov. John Edwards - video
18. 12/17/18 - MS Gov. Phil Bryant - article/video
19. 12/18/18 - TX Gov. Greg Abbott - video
20. 4/26/19 - SC Gov. Henry McMaster - video
21. 5/2/19 - MO Gov. Mike Parson - video
22. 6/24/19 - NC Gov. Roy Cooper - video
23. 7/29/19 - CA Gov. Gavin Newsom - video
24. Seeking sponsorship...
