Rancho Bernardo centenarian is taking a ‘No Regrets’ tour
A 100-year-old World War II Army infantry veteran from Rancho Bernardo is going on a “No Regrets” tour that has garnered him national attention and many accolades as he endeavors to meet the governors in all 50 states, plus the president.
But Rancho Bernardan Sidney Walton does not only want to meet political leaders. He also wants to give people the opportunity to meet a World War II veteran before they no longer have the chance. Part of the reason for this — and the name of his tour — is because of one of his lifelong regrets: missing the opportunity decades ago to meet a Civil War veteran when he had the chance.
It is a regret his son, Paul Walton, said his father has talked about many times in subsequent years. It was the inspiration for the tour, an idea that came about last year when Paul and his sisters, Judy Walton of Portland and Ellie Walton of Vista, gathered to celebrate their father’s 99th birthday.
“We wanted to make up for his one regret,” Paul said. “He is putting himself out there ... willing to make the effort to go to ... communities and meet (people). ... This is quite possibly the last opportunity (for some to meet a World War II veteran).”
According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, as of 2018 there were fewer than 500,000 of the 16 million American World War II veterans still alive.
Going forward, people get a “double bonus” when meeting his dad since Sidney became a centenarian on Feb. 11. Meeting someone who has lived 100 years is also a rarity for some, Paul said.
So far they have met the governors in 19 states and spent about a week in each since his tour began in Rhode Island in April 2018. The other states have been Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Indiana, Nebraska, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Florida, Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. During scheduled and spontaneous stops he has met people of all ages, including fellow WWII veterans in nursing homes.
During his tour he has also met the late President George H.W. Bush, Prince Harry, the Dalai Lama, John Legend, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Gordon Ramsay, Vin Diesel, Usher, Beyoncé, Jay Z, Gary Sinise and Nicole Kidman.
On his 100th birthday last month, Walton was featured in an “America Strong” segment on ABC’s “World News Tonight with David Muir” and on NBC’s “The Today Show.” Other recognitions have included being honored at the Panthers v. Bruins game in December, during the Westminster Dog Show at Madison Square Garden and last week at a San Diego State Aztecs basketball game.
While recently visiting Washington, D.C., Walton visited Congress, where he received a congressional honor from Rep. Mike Levin, and the World War II Memorial. “It’s very impressive,” Sidney said.
Last Thursday, San Diego City Councilman Mark Kersey proclaimed March 7, 2019 “Sidney Walton Day” in the Fifth District.
“Both of my grandfathers were veterans and sadly not with us anymore, so the fact that we have someone like Sidney who can introduce himself to current generations is fantastic,” Kersey said during the presentation at City Hall. “I’m honored to recognize his service and wish him the best in fulfilling his goal.”
“For the City of San Diego to proclaim March 7, 2019 as Sidney Walton Day is an honor that will be remembered for the rest of my life!” Sidney said.
“Today has been a watershed moment in my dad’s campaign to call attention to the declining number of World War II veterans,” said Paul, who is also a Rancho Bernardo resident.
Sidney Walton, who was born and raised in New York City, joined the Army in March 1941. His five years in the military included service in the China-Burma-India Theater during the war. When asked why he joined the Army several months prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor — which led to the U.S. entrance in the war — he said, “To kill Hitler.”
After leaving the military as a corporal, Walton went on to graduate school at Yale University, during which time he met his future wife, Rena Bell, on a blind date. They married in 1954. Rena was a school teacher. Sidney’s career included teaching geology at Duke University and North Carolina State University. Later, he worked as a civilian at an Air Force base in Maine and in 1960 the family moved to San Diego, where as a civilian he worked in water and air pollution control at North Island Naval Air Station.
The Walton family settled in the Clairemont neighborhood, where the couple lived until Rena’s death in 1982 due to cancer. Paul said her passing was “so traumatic” for his father that within two weeks he decided to retire and soon after move, first to a condo in Fashion Hills (overlooking Fashion Valley) and by the late 1980s to a home in the Oaks North neighborhood in Rancho Bernardo.
His children said that throughout his lifetime their father has loved traveling — he has visited more than 30 countries — plus hiking and academic subjects, especially geology, geography and chemical engineering. Another constant has been his patriotism.
“This is the greatest country in the world,” Sidney said, adding “I’m very proud to be an American.”
While happy to meet the governors and celebrities, Sidney said the best part of this adventure has been the time he has gotten to spend with his three children while traveling around the country.
After a few weeks “rest” at home — his respite will include being honored at the March 27 Gulls game and March 28 Padres opening day festivities — Sidney and his son will head out to cross off more of the other 31 states on his list. In June they plan to travel to Normandy, France, so he can attend the D-Day commemorative ceremonies.
While the family is financing the tour, donations are also welcome from those who would like to help with the endeavor. A GoFundMe account has been set up at Sidney100.com. The website also includes photos from his travels.
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