I remember the POW bracelets well. It seemed like in my area it unfortunately was the “cool” thing to do and I doubt my pears that had them really understood what it was about. I was introduced to Stockdale at his cousins funeral by his widow, who as I said were friends and neighbors of my grandparents. Their son, my uncle, was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for Heroism posthumously so they had something in common. Stockdale was gracious and friendly towards me, a total stranger and a nobody. He was a true gentleman.
When I learned more about him as I got older, the more I found out, the more I admired him.
It was his quiet stone steel conviction in the face of horrible adversity that just makes me wish I had met him in person and shaken his hand.