Vt. governor remembers WWII veteran Sidney Walton

An American flag in Woodstock Village on July 4, 2020. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

In public remarks on Tuesday, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott took some time to remember World War II veteran Sidney Walton, who famously embarked on his “No Regrets” tour in 2018 to raise awareness on veterans’ issues. 

Walton passed away on Saturday at age 102 in Santa Monica, California. A native of New York City, Walton was an Army infantryman who joined the military nine months before the attack on Pearl Harbor. In his nationwide tour, Walton’s goal was to visit all 50 governors in all 50 U.S. states, and it was two years ago that he traveled up to Vermont to meet Scott.

“I was the 24th governor he met back in November of 2019, and he met his 40th, Gov. (Kevin) Stitt in Oklahoma, just one week ago today,” Scott said at a Tuesday press conference. “As you know, while I have a great deal of respect for anyone who served our country, World War II veterans hold a special place for me, with my dad serving in the Third Army in France as a tanker under General Patton.” 

Scott said Walton’s passing shows how important it is to thank World War II veterans of the Greatest Generation “whenever you have the chance.” 

“Unfortunately, there aren’t many of them left, and they did more than we’ll ever fully know or appreciate. They literally saved the world and were the best of the best,” the governor said. “So again, whenever you’ve got the opportunity to thank someone who served, take it.” 

Seeing Walton’s dedication to his fellow veterans, he exemplified a lifetime of service, as so many veterans have. His tour drew national attention and gained more exposure for issues impacting those who have served in the armed forces. On his 99th birthday, Walton readily accepted when his son, Paul, came up with the idea for the tour. For years, Walton had told his children about one regret: how he passed up an opportunity in 1939 to meet a group of aging Civil War veterans who gathered at the World’s Fair in New York City, the Los Angeles Times reported. 

“I said, ‘How would you like to go on tour across the country, meet every governor in every state and meet people along the way and give each and every one of them an opportunity to meet a World War II veteran before it’s too late?’” Paul recalled in his interview with the Times. “He said, ‘Son, I’m up for that.’”

Paul Walton called his father’s tour “a symbol of unity” for the U.S., according to the Los Angeles Times. 

“This is not a Republican campaign, it’s not a Democrat campaign, it’s not an independent campaign,” he told the newspaper. “It’s an American campaign.”

— Gareth Henderson

Honoring the ultimate sacrifice

Members of the Ora E. Paul American Legion Post No. 24 march through Woodstock, Vt., on Saturday in the annual Memorial Day Parade. (Susan Ford Photo)

As numerous Memorial Day traditions returned across the state and nation, this Memorial Day brought a unique spotlight on the perseverance and courage of the country.

This nation has confronted the grave challenges of war in the past, and each time, courageous men and women have given the ultimate sacrifice. And it's up to us to honor and remember how they bravely fought to ensure our freedom.

As we now emerge from the pandemic, it's a special time to remember what the U.S. can achieve when presenting a united front against a common challenge. Today, we honor when Americans have stepped forward in defense of liberty, with a willingness to sacrifice all for the common good. We remember how the bravery of so many has shaped our country, and what it teaches us today.

On Monday, Gov. Phil Scott honored the many times Vermonters have taken part in those sacrifices.

“Since the birth of our nation, thousands of Vermonters have answered the call. They don’t do it for the glory or fame, they do it for our country and all of us," Scott said in a statement. "Their dedication often puts them in harm’s way and has, unfortunately, cost too many their lives. This is why we can never let their sacrifices be in vain."

Moving forward from this life-changing time in our nation, it's incumbent upon each of us to honor this long-standing spirit of sacrifice, and play a role in improving the country they fought to protect. This includes so much more than individual freedom. This includes preserving freedom for all, and ensuring that liberty is equally shared in the experiences of all Americans. Our fallen soldiers, in their great courage, fought to uphold and sustain that very freedom. Now, the work must continue, and we forge ahead with that goal in our mind and hearts.

As Gov. Scott said, “We must always strive to uphold the values of the nation they fought to preserve and work to build a more perfect union in their honor."

— Gareth Henderson

Our veterans and their unwavering service

Members of the Ora E. Paul American Legion Post No. 24 march through Woodstock, Vermont, on Wednesday, on their way to take part in a Veterans Day Service in front of the courthouse. (Susan Ford Photo)

Today, many Americans are concerned about the future of the country, and at this important moment, Wednesday brought a time to remember our veterans — and a time of reflection.

In 2020, Veterans Day gave us a chance to step back and honor these heroes and the democracy they defended. Most importantly, we reflected on the innumerable sacrifices they made to protect our freedom. We have the deepest gratitude for all they've done. Their service is a tremendous source of inspiration and honor that underpins our national identity, and they exemplify dedication to a country and its people.

They fought "to secure, protect and advance the ideals on which our nation was founded," Vermont Gov. Phil Scott said in a statement on Wednesday. The work of our veterans reminds us that it takes action to defend those ideals.

“Today, it’s important for all of us to remember that those principles — life, liberty, equality, democracy and justice — have never been guaranteed, " Scott said. "Instead they’ve been hard won by those we’re honoring today, through the selfless acts of heroism and the day-to-day efforts of America’s veterans."

Those lessons from our veterans are particularly instructive today, as our union struggles under the weight of political strife.

“As we honor them today, let’s remember what patriotism truly looks like; let’s use their example to unite our nation in this time of deep division; and let’s do all we can to live up to their sacrifice, their service and their unwavering commitment to freedom," Scott said. 

The key part of that call for unity is the word "unwavering". No concept could better describe the dedication of our veterans. Today, it's more important than ever that we all embrace opportunities to build unity, with that same unwavering, courageous commitment. 

We each have a role to play in the process of overcoming the political divisions pushing at the core of our democracy. In local communities, we can take steps to start those conversations and keep them going in a compassionate, productive way which helps society. Let's strive to understand each other better and build bridges to meaningful solutions. Some days it may seem impossible, but our veterans have certainly accomplished goals that, at one time, appeared impossible. Today, our country needs us. 

— Gareth Henderson