This Veterans Day, dozens of senior veterans coast to coast are sharing life lessons learned in service through a project spearheaded by Watermark Retirement Communities. Watermark is giving senior veterans the opportunity to share with younger generations essential life lessons they learned – the hard way – so that others may learn from, and aspire to, their examples.
"The senior generation of veterans Watermark so proudly serves today, served for us. They continue to contribute so much to our society. We are most fortunate to inherit their legacy of character and leadership," stated Watermark spokesperson Jill Hofer.
Louis Barry served in Army Infantry and Air Corps as a Sergeant and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Told he was missing in action, his family held his funeral before learning he was a prisoner of war. After his release, Barry was awarded the Silver Star and a Purple Heart. His take-away lesson: "Live life to the fullest."
George North served in the U.S. Army and Airborne from 1941 to 1945. North said he made his most important jump in the battle of Corregidor. If he had failed, he explained, the whole mission would have failed. The most important life lesson service taught him: "Be prepared – pay attention to every little detail – that is so important in being successful."
Men and women from every branch of service from WWII through Desert Storm are represented in Watermark’s Life Lessons project.
Father Bill Ford served as a Naval Lieutenant and Public Information Officer in Vietnam, 1959-1966; Naval Reserves, 1970-1974; and as Catholic Chaplin during Desert Storm, 1989. The most important lesson Ford learned in service: "Maintain a positive outlook in life."
Margaret Sloane, who tended wounded soldiers as a recreation therapist in the American Army hospitals in England, learned: "Sometimes the joy of helping is reward enough."
source: Press Release
