The Texas Veterans Land Board is asking Texans to send birthday cards to Weldon Bowen, a World War II Marine Corps veteran who turns 100 on Sept. 5 at the Watkins-Logan Texas State Veterans Home in Tyler.
Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, who chairs the board, made the request in an Aug. 20 release from the Texas General Land Office, encouraging the Tyler community and the wider state to send at least 100 cards for the milestone.
Bowen was born in Luling and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on Aug. 3, 1945, after graduating from high school, according to the release. He completed basic combat training and was stationed at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, serving during World War II. He was honorably discharged Aug. 23, 1946, and received multiple awards for his service, including the Good Conduct Medal and Expert Rifleman.
The request comes through the board’s 100 for 100 program, an outreach effort coordinated with the land office to garner community support for residents of Texas State Veterans Homes as they reach the centennial milestone, the release said.
Texans who want to take part can send cards to Bowen in care of the Watkins-Logan Texas State Veterans Home, 11466 Honor Lane, Tyler, TX 75708.