I went to a Walmart last Sunday morning and happened to meet a gentleman in the potato chip aisle. We met because we are both short. I told him a story I had heard from a World War II Wave. She said she was so short she was just a Ripple. He then told me he had been a rear gunner in a WWII Hell Diver aircraft in the Pacific. Because I am a docent at the Museum of Military Memorabilia I understood what he was talking about and he told me some of his story. I believe he participated in the sinking of a Japanese ship and once was shot down and spent some time in the ocean before being rescued.
He is 88 years old and recently lost his wife and feels very lonely. I did not ask this gentleman his name, but I would like to take this opportunity to issue an invitation to any and all veterans to visit us at the museum located in the Naples Municipal Airport.
We don’t have a coffee pot or doughnuts but we can offer you respect and friendship — and we love to hear your stories. Everyone is welcome to visit the museum and learn the military history of America.
I hope the gentleman I met will read this letter and visit us. I always consider it an honor to meet our veterans and/or active military participants.
Joyce Lehrke, Naples
He is 88 years old and recently lost his wife and feels very lonely. I did not ask this gentleman his name, but I would like to take this opportunity to issue an invitation to any and all veterans to visit us at the museum located in the Naples Municipal Airport.
We don’t have a coffee pot or doughnuts but we can offer you respect and friendship — and we love to hear your stories. Everyone is welcome to visit the museum and learn the military history of America.
I hope the gentleman I met will read this letter and visit us. I always consider it an honor to meet our veterans and/or active military participants.
Joyce Lehrke, Naples