This WWII vet wants to meet every state's governor before his 100th birthday

Sidney Walton, a 99-year-old World War II veteran, still regrets not stopping 78 years ago when he saw a gathering of Civil War veterans in Central Park.

That's why Walton, a Brooklyn native now residing in San Diego, is on his "No Regrets Tour," with the goal of meeting the governor of every state by the time he turns 100 next February. Walton wants to make sure that before there aren't any World War II veterans left, anyone who wants to meet one has the opportunity to do so. "It is important that they meet living history, they meet someone who fought in World War II," Walton's son, Paul, told the New York Daily News.

So far, the Army veteran has met with the governors of Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, and is likely going to cross New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) off his list this week. While In Rhode Island, Walton was made an honorary brigadier general of the Rhode Island Militia, and he was given a Medal of Merit by Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R). Catherine Garcia

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.