Interesting: Yes - Personal: Definitely
Alice's Dad (My father-in-law) Turns 94 on 6/11/2013
Alfio is a WW II veteran who served in North Africa from 1941 to 1943. He served with the 18th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division (The Big Red One). Although he left the war with no visible scars he still suffers with PTSD. When he served it was called 'Shell Shock' the 'Battle Fatigue' but it's all the same thing. He still has nightmares and, unfortunately, his short term memory is fading. His long term memory is quite intact.
My brother has been his caretaker since 2005 which not very long before Alice had her transplant.
My brother also had a great idea:
"Alfio will be celebrating his 94th birthday on June 11th and a friend of mine suggested that we try to get him 94 physical birthday cards to overwhelm him on his birthday. I thought this was a great idea and posted it on my facebook page but I don't have a million friends (most of which I don't even know) and I have no way of knowing if this is going viral or not. If I get 50 cards that would be great but if I get 250 cards he will feel like Kris Kringle sitting in the courthouse just before Christmas.
I am asking each of you to send him a card this year. I am also asking you to reach out to anyone you know who knows Alfio (or just wants to honor a dying breed of WW II Vets). I will send our mailing address on the bottom of this letter. When the cards start coming I will put them all into a bundle and present them to him on his birthday. I will try to take a video of his reaction and post it on You Tube so that you can all see it.
We are not having a huge party this year because it may be a bit too much for him but the cards would be a great way to cheer him up and let him know how many people remember and care about him. We all tend to get caught up in our daily lives and I am as guilty as everyone else for doing that. Let's try to take 10 minutes out of our busy schedule to do this for someone before it is too late.
Thank you,
Rudy Gostischa
P.S.: Send cards to: Alfio A. Perugi
61 West 88th Street, Apt. 1R
New York, NY 10024"
So, if any of you feel like sending out a Birthday Card to Alfio, It certainly would make his birthday one heck of a nice day.
It will also most like be his last birthday. I'd like to see it turn out to be something he'll always remember.
