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John Rich Honors WWII Vet Who Passed Away at 102 After Getting to Sing for Him

Country music star and Fox News host John Rich is remembering the legacy of a 102-year-old WWII veteran who died Saturday morning.

Rich honored Sidney Walton, saying, “we all owe our freedom to him and the Greatest Generation.”

Walton, who grew up in New York, was four years into a quest to meet with governors from 50 states and tell them about the sacrifices and dedication of World War II veterans. 

Former White House Deputy Chief of Staff and Socia Media Director Dan Scavino also tweeted his thanks, posting a photo of Walton at a one-time meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.

John Rich, several governors and many social media users all paid tributes to Walton after hearing the news of his death. 

Rich Defending Folks on Social Media

Recently, John Rich has voiced his opinions on Twitter, hoping to support those who come under attack for their views.

In supporting Carrie Underwood’s likes about vaccinations and Jason Aldean’s family wearing politically-charged shirts, the singer-songwriter has spoke out.

For example, John Rich responded to a Tweet on Oct. 1, saying, “Yep. No more stupid games. Freedom of speech/thought and declaration of Patriotism is more important than the approval of the liberal music industry.”

The statement comes as John Rich believes there’s a growing rift between country music and its fans. Rich’s perception of social media “canceling” artists over their views draws many to his Twitter account.

Rich’s Fox Business show, “The Pursuit! With John Rich,” restarted on Sept. 22. The show began on Fox Nation in February 2020, and Rich has settled in nicely with interviews. Recently, he’s had NASCAR legend Richard Petty and singer Gavin DeGraw on his show.

Honors Rolled In For Veteran

Walton’s “No Regrets” road trip was one of the things Fox Nation accounted for in giving the veteran the 2020 Unsung Hero Patriot Award during its second annual Patriot Awards. Walton was one of nine heroes honored during the annual event. 

Walton’s sons traveled with him on his tour. The family put out a statement after losing their father.

“My father was a living piece of history, reminding us not to forget the price of our freedoms today,” his son, Paul Walton, told the New York Post. “He inspired tremendous appreciation for all veterans.”

Walton’s goal was to meet 50 governors while raising awareness about the sacrifices of World War II veterans. The veteran started his trip in 2018 with Delaware and visited 30 governors. Walton’s road trip also raised money for U.S. hospital nurses working to fight COVID-19. 

The reason for his road tour came from an early experience in his life. Walton said he missed out on the chance to meet a few then-living Civil War veterans at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York City.