Fayetteville VA Honors WWII Veteran, 101

WWII Veteran Sidney Walton among the Fayetteville (AR) VAMC Avenue of Flags.

On Aug. 12, the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks had the honor of hosting 101-year-old World War II Veteran Sidney Walton on his No Regrets Tour.

Walton is traveling to all 50 states to meet all 50 governors in a campaign to raise awareness of the rapidly dwindling numbers of WWII Veterans. Walton regrets an opportunity to meet some of the last Civil War Veterans.

In the photo above, Walton and Health Care System of the Ozarks director Kelvin Parks greet each other in front of the Fayetteville VA Medical Center.

Walton was born on Feb. 11, 1919, in New York City. He joined the Army in March 1941 “to kill Hitler,” nine months before Pearl Harbor. He served during the entire war and is a survivor of the China-Burma-India theater of war.

A hero’s welcome

Hospital staff lined the parade grounds to welcome Walton and his family. Staff cheered, saluted and held signs while Walton was on campus. Kelvin L. Parks, VHSO medical center director, greeted Walton and presented him with hats and t-shirts from the Employee Experience Committee and Military Order of the Purple Heart.

Before Walton left, he and the staff all joined together to shout out the University of Arkansas Razorbacks’ best-known cheer, known as “Calling the Hogs!”

Learn more about Walton’s tour.

Crystal L. Davis is the public affairs officer for the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks.