The last known surviving veteran of World War I has died. Florence Green, 110, was a waitress in Britain's Royal Air Force.
"In a way, that the last veteran should be a lady and someone who served on the home front is something that reminds me that warfare is not confined to the trenches," Retired Air Vice-Marshal Peter Dye told Time.
"It reminds us of the Great War, and all warfare since then has been something that involved everyone," Dye, director-general of the RAF Museum, told Time. "It's a collective experience. ... Sadly, whether you are in New York, in London, or in Kandahar, warfare touches all of our lives."
Green was 17 when she joined the Women's Royal Air Force in 1918, two months before the armistice, the BBC reported.
She recalled her wartime experiences in a 2008 interview, retold in Time.
"I met dozens of pilots and would go on dates," she said. "I had the opportunity to go up in one of the planes but I was scared of flying. I would work every hour God sent. But I had dozens of friends on the base and we had a great deal of fun in our spare time. In many ways, I had the time of my life."
Two weeks shy of her 111th birthday, Green died in her sleep Saturday night at a home care facility in King's Lynn, Norfolk, according to the BBC.
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Why are people being so hateful toward a 110 year old woman who just died? Who cares that she didn't participate in the war at the same level as a pilot or a combat soldier. She was a member of the armed forces (thus, a veteran) and moreover a witness to the WWI era–there are not many alive, veterans or otherwise, who can claim such.
You absolutely do have to give the woman her props! Not only did she help during WWI, but she likely had children who were combatants in WWII, she probably hid as everyone else did during the bombings of BOTH wars, endured the Great Depression and everything that has come our way since. That's one stalwart woman!!!!!!
Agreed.
Trust me, there are more of us that see her merit......than just a handful of bored people,with empty lives, who want to poke fun and create controversy for argumentative and reaction only.
All of the above so nicely stated. At least most of the people here understand the significance and valour of Mrs. Green and her generation.
Amazing!
cnn...commie national network
OBAMANOS!!!
Is your trailer park manager letting you play with his computer today?
and yet you choose to go to their web page and read their article...hmm....
RIP, Florence Green.
I think she was a biker with those handle bars! Poor ol' lady!
One wonders how scary you would look at 80 years of age, much less 110. Poor ol' actor.
All I could say Rest in Peace and this Eric guy is 51 cards shy on a deck of 52 card decl
Nitwit!
Your comments are really positive and helpful, thank you, we are all so glad you took the entire 2 seconds to form a response........... P.S. You are an actor, as they do not appear to come naturally, you should try to act as if you have a measure of empathy every once and while.
You are just a kid, so we forgive your youthful stupidity. Amazing to live 110 years. RIP Mrs Green.
Bravo Zulu, Ms. Green!
RIP and thank you for your dedication and service, Mrs, Green. You embody the spirit of a great nation and a powerful generation that endured more hardship and tragedy than any before or since.
That's a sweet beard!
She just may have gotten tired of fussing with shaving or waxing at her age (delicate skin at 110). Hey Eric the Actor, at 110 your nose hair will cover your lip and your ear hair will look like earmuffs. Worst yet, your eyebrows will tip your head over.
You are a bit of an age-ist, aren't you? Someday that fuzz on your chin will grow out too.
Thank you. Your words were expressed more elequently than my thoughts.
let's just concentrate on the amazing service she provided that helped allow you to sleep soundly in a warm bed at night...next, let's all try and post meaningful, educated comments online. save the 3rd grade chatter for the playground
So did millions of others, and most of them died in the war, and were not at the home front, dating pilots, and having the time of their lifes – this whole discussion reminds me of a SNL skit after the first Iraq war – the goverment would throw a big welcome party for each single returning soldier, and they were "almost done with the letter A" – maybe we should do that for all the past WWI veterans as well, and when we are through in 20 years, we can start with the WWII veterans
The commenter was able to sleep soundly at night, due to her amazing food service? The contributions of those who do/have done heroic things are cheapened by all of this "everyone in the military is a hero, regardless of their job" delusion that people suffer from.
You just proved that the keyboard is mightier than a trolls tongue, and you gave us all a good laugh doing it. Who says you need paint to create a vivid picture? That old girl could probably squash a Troll like a bug even at her age.
Hey, "trollsRstupid", you are correct. Many women have chin hair that the pluck regularly. It is not at all unusual. If I live that long I might also stop pluckin'. ....I would have earned the right to not give a damn what the "younguns' have to say about it. These kinds of comments only show the disrespect young people these days have for the elderly, which was not the way they treated elders in their day.
Rest in peace. Now that the last person is dead, can we get rid of Veteran's Day as a priveleged holiday only for government workers and Wall street bankers. We 99% taxpayers have to slave away working, being horribly inconvenienced with no government services, and having to pay for extra day care while these people go play . It's pure discrimination! Either we all get the day off or time and a half or no one gets it off! Same with Columbus Day (didn't even discover America) and Martin Luther. These days should be special recognition days, not holidays for the priveleged few!
Join a union, you moron.
Sounds like you should complain to your union rep.
Actually I get that day off in the private sector as our company believes it is important to recognize our veterans (all veterans) for their sacrifices. And furthermore, since you obviously aren't smart enough to actually read and understand the article, Veterans Day is a US holiday and this woman was British so her passing would have nothing to do with it anyway.
Sounds like you need a better job.
Errrm, Veteran's Day is to honor all veterans of all wars.
Pretty sure you should be happy to have a job.
Burbank, Are you a veteran?
You're an apple that fell way off the tree eh?
Burbank, you chose perhaps the most undiplomatic way of expressing yourself on this issue... yet I actually see your point.
Wow! Hopefully all is quiet on the western front now. May all of the those who witnessed and participated in the "War To End All Wars" rest in peace. They deserve it.
God bless this lady. Imagine all the things she experienced and read about. A very old person is like a very old tree. They have a dignity all their own.
How is the last person dead when we still have Veteran's all over the world? Horribly inconvenienced is living in the desert without your family for months to a year, working more hours in a few days than you possibly work in a week, not being w/out govt services for one day. Don't blame the recipients blame the lame company that you work for. I am a Veteran and my current company does not give off govt holidays but you get personal days so take one.
The article is referring to the last WWI veteran not the last veteran.
You might want to read the article again. Or maybe just the BIG letters at the top!
Thank you Ms. Green for your wartime service. You may not have been in the trenches, but you still served your country in the armed forces during the Great War. Rest in peace.
Wearing a beard like a bauce. No f*** was given. Props to her. RIP.