Greetings cards from across Canada and as far as Australia have been filling the mailbox of Donovan Nixon, a decorated Second World War veteran in Langford, wishing him a happy birthday and thanking him for his service. But the puzzled 102-year-old Langford resident has no idea who the global well-wishers are.
Unknown to the former bomber pilot, a close friend had posted an appeal on social media asking for people to bombard Nixon with cards for his birthday on Sept. 17 and for Remembrance Day.
香蕉视频直播淟ast Remembrance Day was not a good one for him, so this one I want to blow out of the sky,香蕉视频直播� said Marlene Graham in her post. 香蕉视频直播淛ust so he [knows] that what he did to help us will not be forgotten.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 not very often we have the chance to say thank you to a Second World War serviceman. One lady said it nicely, 香蕉视频直播楲est we forget, let香蕉视频直播檚 not forget Don,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈 she adds.
After reaching out for help to celebrate Nixon, Graham says she was unsure if anyone would take notice of her plea. She needn香蕉视频直播檛 have worried, as people responded in their droves.
香蕉视频直播淢ay your day be full of warm and happy memories 香蕉视频直播� thank you for your service and helping build our country,香蕉视频直播� said Roy and Beverly Schuetz from Prince Albert, Sask., in their message to Nixon, a sentiment echoed in the piles of cards in the war hero香蕉视频直播檚 home in the retirement community, Cherish at Central Park.
香蕉视频直播淢ichael, one of my sons went down to pick up the mail 香蕉视频直播� and there's mail from [as far as] Australia,香蕉视频直播� says Nixon about the moment his son returned from his mailbox, arms full of cards, postcards and letters from around the globe. 香蕉视频直播淢y son said, 香蕉视频直播楧ad, what are you doing? Look at them all.香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈
香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 blown away,香蕉视频直播� said Graham about the response. 香蕉视频直播淚 was so scared the cards weren't gonna come 香蕉视频直播� this is more than I could ever dream.香蕉视频直播�
Graham had hoped her part in the wave of cards to Nixon would remain a secret, but unfortunately her cover had already been blown by someone who had seen her post on Facebook.
香蕉视频直播淚've got to answer all these,香蕉视频直播� jokes Nixon. 香蕉视频直播淏ecause of you,香蕉视频直播� he adds smiling wryly at Graham. 香蕉视频直播淵ou香蕉视频直播檙e going to have to help me sort them all out.香蕉视频直播�
The pair became close after Nixon befriended Graham香蕉视频直播檚 aunt, 89-year-old Glenda Graham, who also lives in Cherish. In the time they have known each other, Nixon has regaled Graham and her aunt with stories about his time in the war.
One story he shares often is about returning from a flight during the Second World War; a rattling noise could be heard in one of his bomber香蕉视频直播檚 wing fuel tanks. When they took a look inside, they found an unexploded incendiary shell.
香蕉视频直播淭here were times when I thought I'll never reach 18 years of age,香蕉视频直播� says Nixon. 香蕉视频直播淚 was very lucky.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淪omebody out there said, 香蕉视频直播楬ey, 102 is okay, but how you got there is another question,香蕉视频直播� he jokes.