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Governor Rauner meets one of oldest living WWII veterans

Helps Sidney Walton fulfill mission of “National No Regrets Tour”

information provided by the Office of the Governor
From left: Paul Walton and his father Sidney, a WWII veteran, are traveling the nation to visit all 50 governors in their state capitols. (Photo provided)

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (July 3, 2018) – Governor Bruce Rauner welcomed WWII veteran Sidney Walton to the state capitol today, helping the 99-year-old advance his “National No Regrets Tour” to raise awareness of the vanishing number of WWII veterans. Walton is one of the country’s oldest surviving WWII veterans.

“It’s a privilege to meet Sidney Walton, one of the many brave heroes who helped keep us free,” said Rauner, who arranged for Walton to have the first luncheon in the dining room of the newly renovated Governor’s mansion. “The work Mr. Walton is doing to raise awareness about what the greatest generation did to save the world for democracy during WWII is incredible.”

Through the “National No Regrets Tour,” Walton and his son Paul are traveling the nation to visit all 50 governors in their state capitols. The father-son duo plans to have the tour culminate at the White House on February 11, 2019, Sidney’s 100th birthday. Governor Rauner is the eleventh governor to welcome them.

Walton embarked on the tour in April to make up for a life-long regret of missing the opportunity to meet a few of the last surviving Civil War veterans in New York City in 1941, the year he joined the Army. He is using the tour to give as many people as he can the chance to speak with a WWII veteran while they still can.

In addition to the Governor’s Mansion, the Waltons visited the Lincoln Tomb Memorial and the War Memorials at Oak Bridge, and they toured the Lincoln Home.

“It was inspiring to hear his stories of the sacrifices he and his band of brothers made to protect and defend our freedom,” said Rauner.

Since beginning this one-year journey, Walton has been welcomed by governors in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Indiana, Nebraska, Tennessee, and Kentucky.

 

The Lansing Journal
The Lansing Journalhttps://thelansingjournal.com
The Lansing Journal publishes news releases from state, county, and local officials who provide information that impacts local community life. The particular contributor of each post is indicated in the byline.