Sidney Walton, a World War II veteran who traveled the country on a “No Regrets Tour,” died on Saturday at age 102, according to a statement from his family.
Walton, a New York native who served in the U.S. Army and fought in China, Burma and India, aimed to visit all 50 states on his tour and meet all 50 governors. He made it to 40 of them, including Alabama, and met with Gov. Kay Ivey on July 1 in Montgomery.
“The world needs more Sidney Waltons,” Gov. Ivey said in a statement after the meeting. “It was a true honor to host Mr. Walton in my office and discuss both his and my father’s service to our great country. This man is a true patriot and an example for us all.”
Walton’s goal for the tour was to celebrate the contributions of WWII veterans and raise awareness that their numbers were shrinking. According to statistics cited by the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, 325,574 of the 16 million Americans who served in World War II were alive in 2020.
“My father was a living piece of history, reminding us not to forget the price of our freedoms today,” Walton’s son Paul said via a press release. “He inspired tremendous appreciation for all veterans.”
Walton’s trek started in April 2018. He made his final stop in September, meeting with Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt.
Walton died on Saturday morning in Santa Monica, Calif., his family said. Details are pending for the funeral service, to be held in San Diego. The family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help with costs of the funeral. By 6:30 p.m. Saturday, the campaign had raised $630 of a $35,000 goal.
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