Dear Wisdom, He’s got the eyes of a man who says little and has seen a lot. Charles is his name, and he was just a 20 year old kid when we went to war. The war we now call World War II. “No war has ever been started by a serviceman or servicewoman,” he said. “I wasn’t a hero. I was just trying to survive.” Poets and philosophers have been trying to describe you Wisdom for as long as we’ve had the written word and maybe longer. Charles' daughter tells me that he never spoken about the war, but that you felt compelled to talk about your Dear World photo. On an evening surrounded by family and friends, Charles writes a letter about his experiences and asks a friend to read it for him. When the letter finished, the crowd gave Charles a standing ovation. The next day, his daughter writes me: We all see a difference in my Dad today - I think he has finally come home from the war. It got me thinking about your Wisdom. How many men and women have been carrying the burdens of experience without an outlet to share it. Wise men and women with neither the past. Isn't it a shame that you, wisdom, dies having never been shared? It didn’t on this night and not with Charles. In the years since the end of World War Two, Charles has asked the same question about war, 'Who has ever gained anything by it?' About Charles Dolan: Charles Halliday "Bud" Dolan passed away on August 14, 2017 at Kaplan Family Hospice House, at the age of 93. Born on September 19, 1923, Bud was the son of the late Frederick and Marion (Halliday) Dolan and the second oldest of eight children. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 64 years, Mary (Doyle) Dolan, in 2014. Bud Dolan lived 34,294 days and treasured each. Regardless of the weather, the news, political landscape and his personal challenges, Bud always found a reason to laugh. Known for his quick wit and wry sense of humor, he measured his success by the laughs and smiles he elicited from those around him. Bud found his greatest joy in the happiness of others. As a young boy, Bud's first job was selling newspapers on a street corner in Arlington during the Great Depression. He often shared his story about the special gift he received one Christmas. After purchasing a newspaper, a customer handed him a small box and wished him a "Merry Christmas." Inside, Bud found a paper scroll tied in ribbon - a gift certificate for a new pair of shoes. Like many people at the time, Bud's shoes were worn out and patched with cardboard. Someone noticed and reached out to help. Decades later, this story still moved Bud to tears. He never forgot the man's kindness and paid it forward throughout his life. He treated friends and customers as family and was always there to offer a helping hand. A highly decorated veteran of World War II, Bud served in the infantry in the Battle of the Bulge. He was proud of his service but did not consider himself a hero. Bud felt he was simply lucky. In 2009, he was honored at Newburyport City Hall for a photo taken of him, as part of the "Dear World" project, and his message: "Halt War." He was quoted as saying "no war has ever been started by a serviceman or servicewoman - they simply fight the wars." He had the utmost respect for all those who served on the front lines, and concern for all those whose lives were put in harm's way. Write your future, Robert PS: Want to forward or share this story to someone who might need it? Use the same link: https://stories.dearworld.com/book/dear-wisdom
