He remembered the vow he made before God—in sickness and in health—and sold his house, his land, and everything he built over four decades to pay her medical bills until the day she died. At 88, he went back to work five days a week, eight hours a day.

X.com ^ | October 19, 2026 | Saggezza Eterna @FinalTelegraph

[ransomnote]

Saggezza Eterna
@FinalTelegraph
·
7h
The True Story of Ed Bambas:

At 88 years old, he was still standing on his feet for 40 hours a week. When someone finally asked him why, his answer broke the country’s heart.

Ed Bambas served in the U.S. Army, worked at General Motors for 40 years, paid his taxes, loved his wife, and played by every rule the American Dream asked of him.

Then his pension and healthcare were wiped out—right as his beloved wife became gravely ill.

In a culture where people cry "trauma" over a hard workweek and demand government bailouts for every poor decision, Ed didn’t complain or beg. He remembered the vow he made before God—in sickness and in health—and sold his house, his land, and everything he built over four decades to pay her medical bills until the day she died. Even at 88, he still visits her grave every single day.

Left with nothing, Ed didn't sit around waiting on a broken government bureaucracy that sends billions overseas while leaving our own veterans behind. He laced up his shoes, put on a grocery store vest in Brighton, Michigan, and went back to work five days a week, eight hours a day.

When a stranger shared a short clip of Ed at his checkout lane, everyday patriots did what politicians refuse to do: they took care of their own, raising nearly $2 million in days so Ed could finally hang up his vest and retire.

Instead of disappearing onto a golf course, Ed took a chunk of his own money and launched the "For Your Service" campaign—a mission to track down and financially rescue 50 struggling veterans across all 50 states.

We spend too much time glorifying celebrities and loudmouths who haven't sacrificed a thing.

Stop and look at Ed Bambas:
• That is what a real husband looks like.
• That is what work ethic looks like.
• That is what an American veteran looks like.

Never judge the older man or woman scanning your groceries or working a late shift—you have no idea what battles they fought, what vows they kept, or what they sacrificed to be standing there. Honor your vows. Take care of our veterans.

 

[RightWingNut]

I’m curious. After working at General Motors, how did he lose his pension and healthcare benefits ?

[napscoordinator]

I think it’s a crime that this guy worked 40 years in General Motors can say well too bad you’re losing your pension. Something wrong with that. I can see why people want to get a government pension so they can continue earning what they worked for. Civilian companies can just drop you for no reason. It’s disgusting.

[DugwayDuke]

I’d like to know that too.

[PeterPrinciple]

Copilot Search Branding

How GM Retirees Lost Pension and Healthcare Benefits
General Motors’ 2009 Chapter 11 bankruptcy — the largest in U.S. history — forced major cuts to retiree benefits as part of a government‑negotiated restructuring to keep the company afloat
www.slbankruptcy.com
www.slbankruptcy.com
+1
.

Why the cuts happened
During the bankruptcy, GM had to slash billions in obligations, including pensions and retiree health benefits, to meet the terms of the reorganization plan
www.slbankruptcy.com
www.slbankruptcy.com
. The federal government, acting as a special master, decided which liabilities GM would keep and which it would assume or eliminate. This was done under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and other federal rules, with the goal of preserving the company’s viability
www.slbankruptcy.com
www.slbankruptcy.com
+1
.

---

the net says...............

[lee martell]

Weren’t they offered a lump sum buyout of their pension?
That may be some other Auto Giant bankruptcy.

[DugwayDuke]

napscoordinator wrote: “I think it’s a crime that this guy worked 40 years in General Motors can say well too bad you’re losing your pension. Something wrong with that. I can see why people want to get a government pension so they can continue earning what they worked for. Civilian companies can just drop you for no reason. It’s disgusting.”

After more research, there was no crime, and there’s nothing wrong here. Ed got exactly what he was entitled to. He was offered/took a $300,000 buy out in 1992 in return for giving up his pension. Then his wife got sick...

[mfish13]

His Army benefits are paid monthly and so would his GM Benefits

[left that other site]

A dear friend of my dad worked for Polaroid for 40+ years.

Suddenly, the business went belly-up and he lost his pension.

So...it does happen.

It seems SO unfair.

[ridesthemiles]

PROBABLY WHEN OBAMA SCREWED UP THE OWNERSHIP OF GM.

CLOSED GM DEALERSHIP ALL OVER THE USA.

WIPED OUT THE STOCK, ETC.

[DugwayDuke]

The internet says Ed Bombas only served for six years in the military. With very few exceptions a military pension requires 20 years service.

He could have continued in the Reserves or National Guard for another 14 years would have qualified him for a military pension. In addition to a regular pension check he would have qualified for Tricare For Life which would have paid all those medical bills that Medicare didn’t cover. Yes, Tricare For Life would cover his wife too.

Now others are expected to make up for his poor decisions.

[mfish13]

Thanks, the article did not make clear he had 6 years only active duty

[napscoordinator]

Dang. It does honestly change things. Thank you for that update.

[missthethunder]

I got out before Verizon sold the old GTE to frontier.
I had over 35 years and hubby had over 40 years.
We cashed out.
I was not gonna depend on them being around.

[left that other site]

I don’t blame you!

[HamiltonJay]

Same way tons of folks lost their pensions and benefits.. Company went BK and they were completely wiped out, or reduced significantly by the courts.

[marktwain]

It seems SO unfair.

---

It is one of the reasons 401K systems are more fair. If the company goes belly up, you keep what you and they put into the 401K.

It means financial independence for a great many people.

[left that other site]

Indeed.

My late husband had a 401K, which was a good thing because McAfee bought his company and fired EVERYBODY. Then he destroyed the company and left all the employees with nothing.

[AppyPappy]

Think of this situation when you see a Medicare For All bumper sticker.

[NorthMountain]

A dear friend of my dad worked for Polaroid for 40+ years. Suddenly, the business went belly-up and he lost his pension.

And that is one problem with a pension program ... the 401(k) system was designed to free people from company sponsored pension plans, and to free companies from the problems associated with running them.