He got his birthday wish.
A World War II vet wanted 100 cards before he became a centenarian on Friday — and ended up receiving close to 2,000 cards from all over the world.
Gaston Pettigrew mailbox was flooded after the Quebec City resident’s wish was featured on a Facebook page dedicated to military history called Passionmilitaria.
Gaston Pettigrew of Quebec City enlisted in World War II at 18.
Jordan Proust, who runs the account, shared Pettigrew’s story along with a photo of the vet holding a sign asking for 100 cards.
In just a few weeks, cards poured in.
Myriam Marty, of Toulouse, France, mailed a card to Pettigrew’s residence after seeing the Facebook post.
Pettigrew’s story was shared on the Passionmilitaria Facebook page. Radio-Canada Info“We don’t really realize what they went through and I think it’s our duty today to say thank you,” she told CBC.
“I’ve always had a very deep respect for these people … thanks to them, we’re French today.”
Pettigrew enlisted at 18. He was a seaman on the convoy escort HMS Ettrick in the Battle of the Atlantic and he made 11 trips between North America and Europe, but the ship was never attacked.
Pettigrew made 11 trips between North America and Europe as a seaman on the HMS Ettrick in the Battle of the Atlantic. Radio-Canada InfoHigh school teachers Rendean Koudelka and Michel St. Louis at Hilltop High School in Whitecourt, Canada taught their ninth graders his story and asked them to pen letters.
“I described what Mr. Pettigrew had to go through,” St. Louis told the outlet.
“They knew about him, and what he did, and all the good things he did as a Canadian.”
“It was very obvious they were thankful,” added Koudelka.
