Salute To Our Veterans

It is a well-known fact veterans don’t like to discuss their military history. “Someone has always had it worse. It was my grandsons who first got me to talk about it,” said retired Staff Sgt. Jack Stoner, a current resident at Gates Mills Club Active Senior Living.

Jack now talks about the events of December 7, 1941 and the bombing of Pearl Harbor. “Everything on the base was quiet. At 7:55 a.m., I was on my way to the mess hall for breakfast when the first torpedo hit.”

Jack was sent to guard the naval ammunition depot; while there, two dud bombs dropped near him. Jack lost many friends that fateful day in history. “It’s the heroes that remain there,” he said.

Jack has gone back to the base in Oahu to honor those friends many times. His last trip to Pearl Harbor was with his son on the 50th anniversary (1991).

He’s often said that one of the best decisions he has made was to move to Gates Mills Club when the time came, because here, he has plenty of “friends” that share his outlook on life.

There are currently 20 veterans actively living in this community and each has a story to share. Jack maintains that his real legacy is his family. Thank you to all of our veterans who have given of themselves to protect our country, and to the all the servicemen and women who are currently protecting our freedoms abroad and at home!