My Dad never went to reunions and only accepted government aid after he was 100 years old and really needed it.
I doubt any other airmen were at his celebration of life. Many church members and friends and neighbours and what family he had left in Ottawa were there. It was a remarkable outpouring of respect and affection.. Even daughters of neighbours and old friends of him and Mom, people we hadn’t seen nor heard of or from for over 50 years, showed up.
We’ve lived thousands of miles apart since I escaped Ottawa in 1972, though we visited mutually when we could. When he got ill last year I spent nearly two months at his bedside trying to take care of him, but it wasn’t really quality time, nor was I competent to give the type of help he needed (nursing, etc.). Fortunately we got him the care he needed in a Veterans’ long term facility and he lasted almost exactly one year more.
It still feels weird not phoning him every day.
He was a hero, and you are a heroic son.