Honoring Our Nation's Finest with Opportunity and Respect

Major Bill White, USMC (Ret)

Major Bill White a retired 104-year-old Marine, WWII veteran and Purple Heart recipient made a special request this Valentine’s Day. He wanted to receive as many valentine cards as possible.  

A fellow resident at the retired and assisted living facility made the initial request on social media calling on people to send White cards, hoping to reach at least 100 cards. About one for each birthday year. The story was picked up by Reuters and local news stations in the Stockton, CA area where Major White lives.

In the weeks following over 70,000 people sent cards and letters to Major White. Inundated with cards and letters it required volunteers to help open all the cards and letters.

One report puts the final count above 300,000 cards and letters.

Sodexo Participation

As expected, the Sodexo HONOR group sprang into action to help grant this deserving WWII veteran his wish for Valentine’s Day.

Here’s what Walter Gallo, Human Resources Manager and the team at Rensselaer Poly Tech Institute did to honor Major White’s wish for Valentine’s Day:

We decided to involve campus together with our staff and students as much as possible! What we decided on was that we had a banner made thanking Major White for his service. Following receipt of it, we crossed campus, visiting all our major dining areas and spoke to students and staff about Major White and his contributions to our country through his service in World War II. I have to say the reception from our Sodexo staff, our client representative and our students was tremendous. Everyone we interacted with was uplifted and thrilled to sign the banner to thank Major White for his service and wish him a Happy Valentine’s Day! In addition, we got into contact with the Navy ROTC contingent on campus and every member of that unit was thrilled to be a part and sign the banner thanking him! The first four photos are of members of the NROTC signing the banner for Major White, and the last is myself and members of our team holding up the finished banner. As you can see, we sought to fill every corner of the banner for him!