To the gentleman in Montrose who walked up to me and gave me his Buddy Poppy, thank you. Your gift meant more than you could have known at that moment.
This man not only played a role in my life as my father-figure, but he also played a role in changing the course of the history of the United States Navy.
The Civil War ended 157 years ago, but believe it or not, the U.S government was still paying survivor benefits to the daughter of a Civil War veteran into 2020!