Age 92 WWII Vet Wanted 1 Last Dance Before Passing Away. Sorority Made Dream Come True
World War II veterans have rightfully been heralded as heroes because of their service to this country.
And with many of them in their 90s and coming near to the end of their lives, it is only right that their final dreams and wishes come true.
Navy veteran Paul Sonnier’s final wish was “to dance with a beautiful woman” and one Southern Missippi sorority set out to make sure the 92-year-old got his wish.
The women of Phi Mu at the University of Southern Mississippi hosted a dance for Sonnier after he told Jessica Moreau, a social work intern at SouthernCare Hospice Services, his dream during her regular visits.
“He’d always ask me if I wanted to go to Ropers, the local bar,” Moreau, who is also a member of Phi Mu, said. “He says I’ll teach you how to jitterbug and the Waltz.”
After hearing about the bedridden veteran’s wish, the sisters of Phi Mu organized the dance and invited him as well as members of his family.
“We as a chapter always like to get involved with the community,” Phi Mu President Cameron Ponder told WDAM. “Since one of our members is a social work major at the University of Southern Mississippi, we just found this to be a great way to honor someone that has done so much for our country.”
Sonnier was brought to the dance in an ambulance and on a gurney. He danced with his hosts from his bed, grasping their hands as the music played. According to a post from the sorority, they sang and ate lemon cookies with the Pearl Harbor survivor as well.
Family members told WDAM that they were grateful for the kindness of this group of women.
“We’re super grateful because he hasn’t been out the house in so long,” his granddaughter, Samantha Owen, said. “All these ‘pretty women’ get to come around him. He gets to hand out flowers and just be himself. He hasn’t been himself for a while. So, he’s super happy.”
His daughter, Ida, added, “What we appreciate the most is that our greatest generation member, my father, is happy that this younger generation appreciates everything that he did and sacrificed so they can sit here and have fun and have the freedoms that they have.”
Sonnier had previously been given the Military Challenge coin from the University of Southern Miss Center for Military Veteran’s Affairs for his service during the war.
And although he couldn’t physically dance, he said, “it feels good to be with all these beautiful women.”
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