A funeral was held in England today for Captain Sir Tom Moore, who raised over £32 million for the UK’s National Health Service during the lockdown and died tragically with COVID-19 just weeks before his 101st birthday. His story highlight that we are never too old to serve; never too old to make a difference in the lives of others.
The Flight Flight Of Captain Sir Tom Moore
In April 2020, Captain Tom began walking laps in his Bedfordshire garden. The goal was to raise £1,000 for NHS charities. He ended up raising more than £32million.
Within a three-week period, Captain Tom had become an international sensation. On his 100th birthday he received a flyover from the Royal Air Force and was personally knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in July 2020. He made many media appearances, told his story, and was embraced by millions.
The rather sad travel angle of the story is that in honor of his service and knighthood, British Airways flew him and his family in first class to Babardos in December. The trip fulfilled a life-long dream. British Airways even named an airplane after him and stitched a special seat cover for his first class seat.
A message from Tom “I never thought that, at the age of 100, I would get to travel again. I’m so grateful to everyone who has made this possible. The support I have been shown in 2020 has given me renewed energy and today I get to tick something off my bucket list.” pic.twitter.com/bA9uC8G54M
— Captain Tom Moore (@captaintommoore) December 11, 2020
Sadly, he contracted COVID-19 after returning from Barbados, which mixed with pneumonia dealt him a death blow earlier this month. He did not contract the virus while traveling, but after his 14-day quarantine back in the UK.
Rather than a large funeral heralding his life, a tiny gathering was held today with only a few family members. But from across the pond, I salute his service to nation and service to humanity. Captain Tom proves that we need not just get old and fade away, but that even in our later years we can still provide valuable public service.
My own grandmother continued to teach until she was 107 years old and the idea of continuing service is something I too hope to do and be remembered for.
CONCLUSION
Thank you Captain Moore for your service and inspiration. Thank you for teaching us that we can continue to make a difference, no matter our age.
Hi Matthew,
Minor comment, at the beginning of this month, it was reported widely in the UK news his family revealed he had been testing negative for COVID for over 14 days after returning from Barbados. He was hospitalised within that period for pneumonia but it appears more likely he in fact caught the virus in the hospital rather than Barbados given the timing of when he tested positive.
That’s a very big point. Thanks so much for bringing it to my attention.
“continuing service”, Matthew?
Come on, where do you serve?
None of your business. I don’t boast, lest I have my reward already.
At some point I hope they do a film on his life right up to this sad but fitting ending. I can actually see Anthony Hopkins playing the part.
What an amazing person and character. At the darkest moment of my own Covid depression last spring his story lifted me up and gave me hope. Not only that we would see better days, but that humanity is very much alive still.
As sad and bittersweet as his final trip was (or rather the what happened after), at least he went out having a wonderful last vacation with his family, to say nothing of what he accomplished the year before. We should all be so lucky in the twilight of our years.