What's Next Aileen?
Interview with Irving Locker, WWII Veteran and guest at President Trump's 2019 State of the Union Address [email protected] Phone: 201-400-3101 TEACHERS & SCHOOL Officials Need to Invite Irving to speak at your schools and your organizations -- HISTORY is to be shared and not forgotten |
'''August 12, 2019
Interview with Irving Locker - WWII Veteran |
Local vet Irving Locker lept into national spotlight at SOTU
By Roxanne Brown
Posted Feb 9, 2019 at 3:00 PM THE VILLAGES — Ninety four-year-old Irving Locker is back home in The Villages after achieving a long moment of national celebrity at President Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday.
An estimated 46 million people witnessed the moment as Locker and several other World War II veterans were acknowledged by the president as “incredible heroes” for their participation in the D-Day landings at Normandy. At the mention of his name, Locker sprang to his feet excitedly and shook his fist at Trump in appreciation.
“I have a power point and I speak to different organizations and schools about how I went in on D-Day, and I spread the word about all we went through back then as soldiers and what we did,” Locker said. “I also do a lot of interviews and some of them are online and that’s how I think they found out about me and contacted me and how I got in (to the State of the Union).
“But I had no idea that the president was going to call my name. That was a different ballgame totally,” Locker added.
In the days following the State of the Union, Locker has been mobbed by friends and family about the historic moment and about how proud they felt when they saw him practically pop out of his seat with pride.
Irving Locker, of The Villages, gives a thumbs up to President Donald Trump during the State of the Union on Tuesday. [Jasper Colt/USA Today]Locker said he was just excited.
“I was really delighted and felt very excited and honored when I heard my name and I just stood up. It was an honor and a privilege,” he said.
Gerald Sexsmith, who has heard Locker speak on many occasions throughout Lake County, said he was watching the State of the Union when all of the sudden, he noticed Locker.
“They panned in and as soon as I saw him, I said, ‘Hey, that’s Irving Locker,’ ” Sexsmith said. “I’m sure I wasn’t the only one either because everyone knows him around here.”
Locker said he and wife, Bernice, received an invitation to the State of the Union weeks earlier but when it was canceled, so was their trip. Then the speech was rescheduled.
“We were told not to discuss it with anybody, not even our families, or tell anybody we were going to Washington,” Locker said. “I guess it was for our own security.”
Locker said they received “first class treatment” and were surrounded by Secret Service at all times.
He said he and Bernice had a private meeting and a picture taken with Trump in the Oval Office and had pictures taken with Melania Trump and with Vice President Mike Pence that White House officials promised to send to them later.
Locker said they also got a private tour of the White House and were introduced to other officials and veterans during their time in Washington.
“I never dreamed I could meet the president or shake hands with him and talk to him alone. It was an honor,” Locker said.
As for their conversation, Locker said he spent much of it praising Trump for the great job he is doing leading the country.
“I’m a big believer in Trump, and I told him that I admire him for giving up a life where he could have anything he wanted to be the president and better our country and take the abuse he’s taking every day,” Locker said. “I think he’s a miracle man.”
Bernice said that before the State of the Union began, she and other families were told there was only room in the gallery for the veterans and caretakers to help them get seated and stand up to exit.
Bernice said she could only smile when Locker bolted from his seat.
She also said she recorded the State of the Union and cannot wait for Locker to watch it so he can re-live the moment from a different perspective.
“He didn’t look like someone who needed any help standing up,” Bernice said with a slight chuckle. “But I am very proud of him and how visible he was. I’d like him to see himself how we got to see him.”
By Roxanne Brown
Posted Feb 9, 2019 at 3:00 PM THE VILLAGES — Ninety four-year-old Irving Locker is back home in The Villages after achieving a long moment of national celebrity at President Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday.
An estimated 46 million people witnessed the moment as Locker and several other World War II veterans were acknowledged by the president as “incredible heroes” for their participation in the D-Day landings at Normandy. At the mention of his name, Locker sprang to his feet excitedly and shook his fist at Trump in appreciation.
“I have a power point and I speak to different organizations and schools about how I went in on D-Day, and I spread the word about all we went through back then as soldiers and what we did,” Locker said. “I also do a lot of interviews and some of them are online and that’s how I think they found out about me and contacted me and how I got in (to the State of the Union).
“But I had no idea that the president was going to call my name. That was a different ballgame totally,” Locker added.
In the days following the State of the Union, Locker has been mobbed by friends and family about the historic moment and about how proud they felt when they saw him practically pop out of his seat with pride.
Irving Locker, of The Villages, gives a thumbs up to President Donald Trump during the State of the Union on Tuesday. [Jasper Colt/USA Today]Locker said he was just excited.
“I was really delighted and felt very excited and honored when I heard my name and I just stood up. It was an honor and a privilege,” he said.
Gerald Sexsmith, who has heard Locker speak on many occasions throughout Lake County, said he was watching the State of the Union when all of the sudden, he noticed Locker.
“They panned in and as soon as I saw him, I said, ‘Hey, that’s Irving Locker,’ ” Sexsmith said. “I’m sure I wasn’t the only one either because everyone knows him around here.”
Locker said he and wife, Bernice, received an invitation to the State of the Union weeks earlier but when it was canceled, so was their trip. Then the speech was rescheduled.
“We were told not to discuss it with anybody, not even our families, or tell anybody we were going to Washington,” Locker said. “I guess it was for our own security.”
Locker said they received “first class treatment” and were surrounded by Secret Service at all times.
He said he and Bernice had a private meeting and a picture taken with Trump in the Oval Office and had pictures taken with Melania Trump and with Vice President Mike Pence that White House officials promised to send to them later.
Locker said they also got a private tour of the White House and were introduced to other officials and veterans during their time in Washington.
“I never dreamed I could meet the president or shake hands with him and talk to him alone. It was an honor,” Locker said.
As for their conversation, Locker said he spent much of it praising Trump for the great job he is doing leading the country.
“I’m a big believer in Trump, and I told him that I admire him for giving up a life where he could have anything he wanted to be the president and better our country and take the abuse he’s taking every day,” Locker said. “I think he’s a miracle man.”
Bernice said that before the State of the Union began, she and other families were told there was only room in the gallery for the veterans and caretakers to help them get seated and stand up to exit.
Bernice said she could only smile when Locker bolted from his seat.
She also said she recorded the State of the Union and cannot wait for Locker to watch it so he can re-live the moment from a different perspective.
“He didn’t look like someone who needed any help standing up,” Bernice said with a slight chuckle. “But I am very proud of him and how visible he was. I’d like him to see himself how we got to see him.”
What's Next Aileen?
Host: Aileen Milton Founder & President of TVCM Filmed By: The Villages Conservative Media thevillagesconservativemedia.com The Villages Conservative Media Growing and Expanding
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