My grandfather, Stephen William Bull II, was on a ship in the Pacific while serving in the Navy during WWII. Prior to shipping out, he received his training at the Navy’s Sampson Training Facility in Upstate New York.
Many years later, Papa became the President and all around head honcho for the Sampson Museum, which commemorates all of the sailors who were trained there, and sits on the site where he trained which is now also a State Park. The times that his face would light up the most was when telling me about getting a fighter plane or cutter boat donated from the Navy to house and show off at the museum… his museum.
He also was determined to establish a veterans memorial cemetary at the site as well. Unfortunately, he passed before that time came but it was with great pride that I read (thanks AK) an article in a recent publication detailing the launch of that memorial cemetery.
Papa is looking down and is beaming in pride at one of his final wishes being fulfilled and that just makes me smile.
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