National Nonprofit Announces Appointment of World War II Veteran to National Board of Directors He has met with 34 Governors in Nationwide Tour

State Funeral for World War II Veterans is pleased to announce that San Diego resident and World War II Veteran Corporal Sidney Walton has been elected to its National Board of Directors.

As one of America’s oldest WWII Vets, Mr. Walton is famous for his current nationwide “No Regrets Tour”. He has met with 32 of the 50 Governors to date.

When Mr. Walton was a young boy, he was given the opportunity to shake hands with a Civil War veteran. Mr. Walton declined that chance and has later regretted it, thus leading to his “No Regrets Tour” and the opportunity to meet local officials, the Dalai Lama, and President Donald Trump.

On Labor Day of 2017, State Funeral for World War II Veterans launched a nationwide petition drive to convince President Donald J. Trump to designate a state funeral in Washington D.C. for the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from World War II. This single state funeral would provide special recognition, and serve as a final salute to the 16 million men and women who served in our armed forces from 1941 to 1945.

Today, 35 million American families proclaim a parent, grandparent or immediate relative who wore the military uniform of the United States in the Second World War.

Thirteen states are on record supporting this appeal to the President. They have either passed a resolution through their legislatures or had their Congressional delegations sign a letter to the White House. They include Texas, Louisiana, Utah, Missouri, Minnesota, West Virginia, Tennessee, Montana, and many more.

In total, 472 Medals of Honor were awarded to World War II servicemen. Only two of these recipients are living today. They are Hershel “Woody” Williams, U.S. Marine Corp Corporal of West Virginia; Charles Coolidge, U.S. Army Technical Sergeant of Tennessee.

During a recent interview, one of the two living Medal of Honor recipients, Woody Williams said, “The idea of a state funeral for the last of us (WWII MOH recipients) to go is great. The nation needs this. It brings recognition to all 16 million of us who wore the uniform. A state funeral is part of our nation’s history that can never be erased.” I have met Texas schoolgirl Rabel McNutt who originate the idea. This is original and timely. We hope President Trump will say yes.”

“The United States has held many state funerals for Generals, but never one for an enlisted man,” said Bill McNutt, Co-Founder and Chairman. “We are working hard all across the country with patriotic and successful leaders like Sidney Walton to make this state funeral a reality.”

“Sidney is an inspiration to all of us and a true American hero,” said Don Ballard, Medal of Honor holder from Vietnam and also a member of the National Board of State Funeral for WW2 Veterans. “He is living the American dream one day at a time. He met the President one day, did the coin toss at Superbowl LIV (2020) the next.”

Mr. Walton’s work and inspiration has been acknowledged in various circles including on the jumbotron at the 2019 World Series. He served his country honorably World War II, joining the Army when he was 21 years old, nine months before Pearl Harbor.

Born to a Jewish family in Manhattan, New York, he joined the Army before Pearl Harbor, “to fight Hitler. I hated that man so much. I’d give anything to fight him.” he told the Washington Post in 2019. Mr. Walton later taught geology at Duke University and North Carolina State University. He married his late wife Rena in 1954.

State Funeral for World War II Veterans State Chairs across the nation will work to help Sidney meet their Governors and get a resolution passed through their state legislature if one does not already exist. State Chairs engaged in this effort include New Mexico, Michigan, Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Virginia, North Dakota, South Dakota, and West Virginia.

About State Funeral for World War II Veterans

State Funeral for World War II Veterans exists to convince the President of the United States to designate a single state funeral for the last Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, as a final salute to the 16 million men and women of the Greatest Generation who served in our armed forces from 1941 to 1945. For more information on how to join us in this mission please visit www.worldwar2salute.org