82 years ago, Reynolds Tomter jotted down his name on the dotted line, devoting his life to service of the United States.
At a flag ceremony on Wednesday, U.S. Rep Derrick Van Orden presented the 107-year-old World War II veteran with an American flag that had been flown over the U.S. Capitol and was with Van Orden when he parachuted into Normandy for the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
“What a celebration and recognition,” said Tomter. “I feel like I am not deserving of all this, but I am eating it up.”
Normandy is particularly special to Reynolds Tomter, the veteran honored at Wednesday’s ceremony, as the historic location was the beginning of the campaign that liberated Europe and eventually led to the defeat of Germany during World War II.
“Today, we got to present Mr. Tomter with a flag that we flew over the Capitol before I went to Normandy and parachuted [with the flag] in my cargo pocket,” said Van Orden. “It’s a small gesture that I can make so that you absolutely know how much I deeply appreciate your sacrifice for our country.”
Tomter is believed to be the oldest living World War II Merchant Marine in the country and is local to Western Wisconsin.
“I’ve been a very lucky guy,” said Tomter. “I have been blessed with good health, but I have always kind of maintained a good attitude and had a good attitude about life — and that’s helped me a lot.”
Currently, Tomter is one of more than 100,000 living World War II veterans, but that number is expected to rapidly decline over the next 15 years, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“Mr. Tomter is part of our greatest generation, and unfortunately, a lot of them are leaving us. We need to take this time to show our appreciation directly to the men and women that gave us our freedoms,” said Van Orden. “Today, we are saying, ‘Thank you,’ and more people need to do that.”
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