Residents of Robson Communities:
My name is Joe Bonavire, a WWII Navy Veteran living in a Robson Community in Goodyear, Arizona. With encouragement from my brother, also a WWII Veteran, I founded SOSW23VETS in 2009.
There are approximately 1,250,000 surviving veterans and their ranks are thinning daily.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of the war in Europe.
SOS is planning to take as many veterans, men and women, as can be found to The Celebration in France. Yes folks, women were a big part of winning the war. Women flew unarmed bombers across the North Atlantic to England. They took care of us when we got hurt, and yes, women helped some pass quietly from this world to God’s domain. I am proud to be a member of that generation.
Some may remember one of our generation, John F. Kennedy, when he was sworn in as President, state: “My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.” I now say to those veterans, what can we do for you? SOS has the answer. We will take as many veterans that we can find to the celebration. I am asking you to go to our website sosww2vets.org and donate: one dollar if that is all you wish. Believe me the dollars will mount up. We would like to send 20 to 25 veterans, both men and women.
Plans are being made as you read this article. The cost per vet is $4,000.
Make no mistake: the freedom we enjoy today is because of the sacrifices of the people of that generation.
Thank you and may God continue to bless this land we call America.
Joe Bonavire, U.S. Navy 1942-1952.