I went to KFC/Taco Bell in Rockport as I often do, to see my kids, Sarah and Eric, who work there just to say hi. As I was leaving one day, nine months ago, my son said, "Mom, there is someone I want you to meet, I've talked about him before, his name is Wes Dearborn and he comes in every day, his wife recently died and he's sad. He's a Korean War vet like Papa was, can you come over and say hi?" So I did, I sat down and I asked him questions about the Korean War and a friendship was forged. Before he left, he scribbled his address on a napkin and I'm glad he did; his health declining, he stopped driving soon after and after that, I visited him wherever the VA sent him. Wes loved his Country Fried Chicken, as he called it, and the staff at KFC knew his order as the "Wes Special."

Weston Dearborn passed away May 27, 2017, at the age of 86. Wes was quite proud of his service to his country. Rest in peace, Wes, you will be missed.

Catherine Cooper lives in Rockland