He obtained his birthday desire.
A World War II veterinarian wanted 100 cards before becoming a centenary on Friday, and ended up resorting to about 2,000 cards around the world.
The Gaston Pettigrew mailbox flooded after the desire of the resident of the Quebec city appeared on a Facebook page dedicated to military history called the samemilitary passion.
Jordan Proust, who directs the account, shared Pettigrew’s story along with a photo of the veterinarian that contains a sign asking 100 cards.
In just a few weeks, the cards arrived.
Myriam Marty, or Toulouse, France, sent a card to Pettigrew residence after seeing the Facebook publication.
“We really don’t realize what happens and I think today is our duty to thank,” he told CBC.
“I have always had a very deep respect for these people … thanks to them, today we are French.”
Pettigrew enlisted at age 18. He was a sailor at the convoy escort HMS Ettrick in the battle of the Atlantic and made 11 trips between North America and Europe, but the ship was never attacked.
The secondary school teachers rendean Koudelka and Michel St. Louis at Hilltop High School in Whitecourt, Canada, taught their ninth grade students and asked the cards.
“I described what Mr. Pettigrew had to happen,” St. Louis told The Outlet.
“They knew about him, what he did, and all the good things he did as Canadian.”
“It was very obvious that they were grateful there,” Koudelka added.