Fulfilled Twilight Wishes

WWII Navy veteran meets meteorologist Adam Joseph

August 29, 2017/in Fulfilled Wishes

Twilight Wish Foundation recently granted the wish of John Kennard, a resident of Luther Woods Nursing and Rehabiliation Center in Hatboro. John, 92, wished to meet his favorite meteorologist, Adam Joseph of WPVI-Channel 6 in Philadelphia.

John served in the Navy during World War II. After his honorable discharge in 1948, he enlisted in the Coast Guard Auxiliary, serving for more than 27 years. He decided to share his love of the weather and became certified in the Coast Guard Auxiliary, teaching classes on the weather for many years. Although now retired and living at Luther Woods, John keeps busy and broadcasts the weather to the other residents every morning over the intercom. He has been a fan of Joseph’s for years and watches him do the weather every day. His wish to meet Adam Joseph, talk to him about the weather and their shared love of meteorology and watch him do the weather broadcast was granted on August 23^rd.

Not only did John get to meet Joseph, but was given a tour of the WPVI studios. He also watched Joseph and the rest of the Action News team do the 4 p.m. broadcast and met Brian Taff, Alicia Vitarelli and Sharri Williams. Thank you to everyone at WPVI for making this special wish come true for such a deserving man!

Lizzie’s wish to paint a mural is granted!

May 23, 2017/in Fulfilled Wishes

Elizabeth “Lizzie” Rocco had her wish to paint part of a mural granted on Tuesday, May 16th. Since moving to Luther Woods Nursing Home last September, Lizzie has come out of her shell and become very involved in all the art programs and classes there. She is a talented artist who loves to paint and enjoys helping others in the classes with their projects. Her wish to help paint on a mural came true as part of our inaugural Week of Wishes, a national wish granting event. Lizzie helped paint a mural on canvas at Mural Arts Philadelphia and then it was off to South Philly where she enjoyed a cheesesteak at Pat’s Steaks with her son and daughter. This wish was made possible thanks to a generous donation from Optum of Horsham. Special thanks also to Mural Arts Philadelphia and Pat’s King of Steaks for making this wish so special.

105-year-old finally receives her high school diploma

May 23, 2017/in Fulfilled Wishes

Theresia Brandl, 105, a resident of Oakdale, Pennsylvania, had her lifelong wish to finally receive her high school diploma granted, thanks to our Allegheny County chapter. Theresia has always regretted that she never graduated from high school. She attended Stowe Township High School, but left before she graduated in order to help take care of her family. Theresia received her diploma during a wonderful graduation celebration in her nursing facility complete with cap and gown on Wednesday, May 17^th. Sadly, Theresia passed away one week after her wish was granted. According to her family, though, she passed away knowing that her final wish was granted.

Lavetta visits Chicago one more time

December 13, 2016/in Fulfilled Wishes

Lavetta Ray, 81, had her wish to go to Chicago with her sister one more time granted, thanks to the partnership between our Indiana chapter and American Senior Communities. Lavetta’s husband used to take her shopping in Chicago when they were younger. Sadly he has passed away, but Lavetta wished to be able to go there one more time. She and her sister enjoyed a wonderful day together: they visited Navy Pier where they rode the Ferris wheel, toured Skydeck Chicago and shopped. Making the day even more special was CNN/HLN covering this amazing wish!

Mae has her wish to attend Rosie the Riveter reunion is granted

July 2, 2015/in Fulfilled Wishes

Mae Krier, one of the original Rosie the Riveters from World War II, recently had her wish to travel to the American Rosie the Riveter Association’s convention in Richmond, CA. Mae, 89, is one of the original “Rosie the Riveter’s of World War II. In 1943, after just graduating from high school in North Dakota, Mae and her family moved to Seattle for war work. At the young age of 17, she got a job working on B-17s and B-29s for Boeing in Seattle. One of her proudest memories is helping to build the 5 Grand, the 5,000^th B-17 made by Boeing after Pearl Harbor. Mae, still a teenager at the time, and her co-workers painted their names on her fuselage. They were so proud of their hard work they pushed the plane out of the factory door onto the tarmac themselves. The 5 Grand passed inspection despite its lack of camouflage; the U.S. Army Air Corps made an exception thinking that the autographed plane would be good for morale. Mae kept track of the plane carrying her rivets as it flew 78 missions over Europe, shooting down two Nazi planes.

While in Seattle, Mae met her husband, Norm, a Navy man on the dance floor at the Service Man’s Center there. They married in April of 1945, just before the war ended and were married for 69 years until his passing in June of 2014. Shortly after they married, Norm was transferred to the naval air station in Pasco, Washington. Mae got a job at the base packing supplies to be sent overseas and worked alongside Italian prisoners of war who were interned at the base.

The ARRA reunion was held in Richmond, California and lasted for three days. Mae had a wonderful time and had the opportunity to exchange war stories with fellow “Rosies.” She meets regularly with other Rosies in the Philadelphia area and maintains contact with some from far-away places. After the convention, she added a few more to her list

Katharyn meets Eagles great Mike Quick

March 10, 2014/in Fulfilled Wishes

Katharyn Reid, 84, has been an avid Eagles’ fan for decades, even painting her living room “Eagles’ Green.” This mother of eight, grandmother of 13, great-grandmother to 17, with one more great-grandchild and one great-great-grandchild on the way, is well known in her family for her loyalty to her beloved Eagles. In fact, there is “no chit-chatting allowed” by her during the games. Sadly, Katharyn is battling brain cancer and currently undergoing chemotherapy. To boost her spirits, her daughter, Nancy Sherlock, submitted a wish request on her behalf, writing that a visit from a Philadelphia Eagles’ player would provide a much-needed respite from her medical treatments. When the Eagles heard of Reid’s story, they jumped at the chance to brighten this deserving senior’s day and arranged to have Eagles great Mike Quick and an Eagles’ cheerleader visit Katharyn and make her wish come true. The Eagles’ organization also arranged to have Jeremy Maclin record a special video message just for Katharyn which was shown to her that day. During the visit, Quick called his broadcasting partner, Merrill Reese, and put him on speaker so that she could talk to him. Thanks to the Philadelphia Eagles and Mike Quick for granting this special lady’s wish!

Bernadine meets President Carter!

September 24, 2013/in Fulfilled Wishes

Bernadine Van Thiel finally had her wish to meet President Carter granted, thanks to our The Pacific Northwest Chapter of Twilight Wish Foundation! Bernadine and her daughter, Rita, traveled from Spokane, WA to Plains, GA in early September. They were given a personalized tour of the Jimmy Carter Library & Museum and the Carter Center. On Sunday, they attended church services at Maranatha Baptist Church. While Bernadine was quietly sitting in her pew, President Carter snuck up behind her, tapped her on the shoulder, and then he and Mrs. Carter shook hands with her. Bernadine was so overwhelmed that she was practically in tears, not to mention speechless! They sat behind Bernadine and her daughter for the remainder of the Sunday services. After services were over, church members took several photos of Bernadine and Rita with President & Mrs. Carter. It was during this time that Bernadine was able to express her gratitude to the Carters for all they have done over the years.

WWII Veteran and POW has wish for flagpole and flags granted

December 3, 2012/in Fulfilled Wishes

Gus Siciliano, a WWII veteran and POW, recently had his wish for a new flagpole and flags granted. Although 92 and in hospice care for mesothelioma, he still lives in his home with Helen, his wife of 60 years. During a recent storm, their 25 foot flagpole and flags were destroyed. Siciliano is a proud Army veteran and was a prisoner of war in a Nazi prison camp in Germany. Until the storm destroyed them, he proudly flew both the U.S. and POW flags. After hearing of his wish, volunteers from Bucks County Service Industry Charities installed a new flagpole and donated new flags. On Saturday, November 17, 2012, over 50 members of Warriors’ Watch attended the wish granting and conducted a flag raising ceremony with Gus raising the flag himself.

WWII Veteran Has Wish to Attend Marine Reunion Granted

October 22, 2012/in Fulfilled Wishes

James Hall, 85, recently had his wish to attend the reunion of the Sixth Marine Division in Portland, Oregon granted, thanks to the generosity of many donors. One of only two surviving platoon members, Hall felt that this would be his last chance to attend the Marine reunion. Because he lives in a nursing facility on a fixed income, he could not afford the trip on his own. Twilight Wish worked hard to raise the funds to cover the travel expenses of Hall and his travel companion and fellow veteran, Bob Higgins. The two left from 30th Street Station on Monday, September 17, 2012 and were seen off by a group of Twilight Wish staff and volunteers.

When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Hall was only 16, so he lied about his age and enlisted. He soon found himself on board a ship headed for combat in the South Pacific. His division landed on Okinawa in April of 1945 and during an attack by Japanese snipers, Hall was shot twice in the lower abdomen, leaving him temporarily paralyzed in the legs. Despite his injuries, he managed to crawl to another critically injured Marine and treated him, but the Marine died in his arms. For his bravery, Hall received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Click here to read the front page article in The Philadelphia Inquirer. Click here to watch the coverage of the wish on WPVI.

Our first wish: Margaret’s wish for headstone for her son’s grave is granted

May 18, 2010/in Fulfilled Wishes, Top Stories

On January 16, 2004, Twilight Wish granted the first wish to Margaret Turner, a nursing home resident in Pennsylvania. Margaret’s son, Isiah, had passed away suddenly and tragically. Because she could not afford the cost of a tombstone, she was forced to bury him in an unmarked grave. When Twilight Wish founder, Cass Forkin, heard Margaret’s sad story, she immediately began to work on making this wish come true. With the help of volunteers and donors, including DeChristopher Brothers who donated the gravestone, Margaret’s wish came true on a cold, snowy morning.

Interesting links