Words from the wise
Oct. 27—According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 119,550 of the 16.1 million Americans who served in World War II are alive as of 2023, but 131 are dying each day.
At this rate, there will be no WWII vets in our midst by 2026.
Any time I have the rare opportunity to speak to someone who's been on this Earth for an entire century — especially who fought for our country between 1941-45 — I do my best to cherish every moment with them.
Based on the brief introduction given by his granddaughter over the phone to me, I had an inkling Virgil Headley would be a gem — and he absolutely was.
Headley had just turned 100 years old about two weeks prior to my arrival to his home in South Shore.
I enter just about any story idea or interview the same way: receptive, inquisitive and sometimes skeptical.
Amy Russell, his granddaughter, had already informed the newspaper of her grandfather's sharp mind, expansive knowledge and affable personality. But, I thought, of course someone is going to talk up her own papaw.
Oh, but she was so right.
Directly off the bat, Headley — sitting comfortably in his recliner but in nice clothes as if he could head to church at any moment — about knocked me off the couch with his nearly to-the-minute memory.
He detailed the length of his marriage and the time span of his Navy service to the day. It was incredible.
Headley is a man of simple routine and humble beginnings. He said he goes on daily walks and still tends to a garden. He cleans house every Friday. He's up at 6:30 a.m. and in bed by 10:30 p.m.
I learned that Headley also chews Juicy Fruit gum — which cost him just 3 cents a pack back in the 1940s.
Headley didn't mind a bit divulging a few tales from war.
He logged several different jobs in various fields until landing at Southern States in Ashland.
Throughout his life, though, it seems that faith and family have been the two mainstays for Headley. He has 10 great grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren.
I thoroughly enjoyed my conversation with Headley, his daughter, Joyce Kirk, and Russell.
Just a month later, Headley was the keynote speaker at a Memorial Day celebration at the Greenup County War Memorial.
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