Help Pearl Harbor survivor fulfill his dream!!!

We all have a personal hero, be it fictitious or realized. But I think we can all agree that our true heroes are our beloved Veterans. I want to introduce you to one of the finest and certainly the oldest and truest gentleman I know! Meet Pearl Harbor survivor, Dick Higgins, affectionately known around town as “Gramps.” You might have seen coverage of his 100th birthday party in July of this year, where 100s of friends, family, strangers, and fellow veterans put on a parade to properly celebrate our local war hero.

Living to 100 is the least of Gramps’ feats and accomplishments. He was an Oklahoma kid who survived the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression, then at 18 he joined the Navy and was two years into his naval service when the attack occurred. On the fateful morning of Dec 7, 1941 Dick Higgins was a 20 year old Navy Radio Operator who woke suddenly to Japanese planes flying over his barracks on Ford Island. He recalls spending the day clearing wreckage from the Navy airfield and salvaging planes.

For as long as I’ve known Gramps his dream has been twofold: to turn 100 and to go back to Honolulu to attend, in person, the 80th anniversary ceremony as one of the last survivors of this momentous event in our American History. A final chance to honor and remember all of his comrades and brothers in arms. In November of 2020 Gramps’ family feared they may not be able to make that dream come true for him as their worst fear was realized when he tested positive for Covid at 99 years old. Despite a very trying and scary couple of weeks navigating his symptoms and keeping his spirits up, he told friends and family that he would beat Covid-19 just like he survived World War II, the Great Depression, and a childhood in the Dust Bowl. And beat it he did with renewed drive in seeing his final dream come true. On his birthday this past July Gramps said loud and clear with a twinkle in his blue eyes and resolution in his voice: “I made it to 100 and all there is to do now is go to the 80th anniversary of the attack of Pearl Harbor.”

And here is where I get to tell you about the amazing family behind this amazing man. You see Gramps doesn’t live in a retirement home or a care facility. He attributes his sharp mind, youthful spirit, hope, optimism, health and the pep in his step to living with his granddaughter and our dearest friend, Angela Norton, along with her husband Ryan and their 2 adorable children. Angela is the primary caretaker for Gramps and has the very tall order of providing 24/7 care for a 2 year old, 6 year old, and 100 year old! If you know the Nortons, you know they have willingly and gracefully sacrificed much over many years of caring full time for Gramps and have made it a priority to give him the best quality of life in his twilight years. On his 100th birthday Angela was quoted: “We are very lucky and very blessed to have him as our grandfather and great grandfather. He’s the kindest man that loves his country, loves God, and loves his family. He is a humble man who would never ask for anything more than just to be alive... and we are so grateful that he is so that we can celebrate his 100 years.”

My hope with this GoFundMe is to bless the Norton family by covering all the expenses they may incur on this unforgettable, once in a lifetime trip for Gramps to travel to Honolulu this December so he can see his final dream through. Your help on any level will provide airfare for their family of 5 and a certified caretaker, lodging, meals, and a rental car. Angela and Ryan are equally as humble as Gramps and initially resisted the idea of a GoFundMe for this trip. However, after penciling out the exorbitant costs to travel to Hawaii for this anniversary event they realized the financial strain it would place on their family and reluctantly and gratefully agreed; with one condition…if for any reason Gramps is unable to physically travel come December, or their trip is canceled or compromised due to Covid travel restraints, they will donate 100% of their refundable expenses from the GoFundMe donations to our local Veterans Association (COVO). If they are able to attend as planned they intend to donate any money that may exceed their expenses to COVO.

I know the Nortons would also appreciate prayers for Gramps to be in good enough health to attend this momentous event, for the ease of travel, and for Gramps and all the Veterans that attend to feel loved and honored and celebrated as all true heroes should feel.

On behalf of this amazing family and all the lives Gramps has touched and inspired in the last century, we thank you deeply for your time, support, prayers, and generosity. MAHALO!!!