LONDON (AP) – Capt. Tom Moore, the veteran of World War II, who got stuck in the hearts of a country as he shuffled up and down his garden to raise money for health workers, has died after testing positive for COVID-19 has. . He was 100.
His family announced his death on Twitter and at a happy moment posted a photo of him behind his hiker, ready for an adventure.
‘The last year of our father’s life was nothing short of remarkable. He was rejuvenated and experienced things he had always dreamed of, ”reads the statement from the family. “Although he was in so many hearts for a short time, he was an incredible father and grandfather, and he will live in our hearts forever.”
Captain Tom, as he became known in newspaper headlines and TV interviews, tried to raise £ 1000 for Britain’s national health service by walking 100 laps from his backyard. But his search went viral, capturing the imagination of millions sitting at home during the first wave of the pandemic. Donations poured in from across Britain and as far as the United States and Japan, raising about £ 33 million ($ 40 million).
For three weeks in April, fans were greeted with daily videos of Captain Tom, hunched over with age, pushing his walker stubbornly into the garden. But it was his sunny attitude during a dark moment that inspired people to look beyond illness and loss.
“Please always remember, tomorrow will be a great day,” Moore said in an interview during an interview, uttering the words that have become his trademark.
When Captain Tom completed his 100th round on April 16, a military guard of honor led the way. The celebration continues on his birthday a few days later, when two World War II fighter jets flew in tribute. Moore, a checkered blanket over his shoulders, pumped a fist as they roared past.
In July, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II during a socially distant ceremony in Windsor Castle, west London. The 94-year-old king uses an impossibly long sword to bestow the honor as Moore carries his war medals on his chest, leans on his hiker, beams and becomes Sir Tom.
“I am overwhelmed by the many honors I have received in recent weeks, but there is simply nothing that can compare to this,” he tweeted after the ceremony. “I am overwhelmed with pride and joy.”
Queen Elizabeth II is planning a private message of condolences to the family, Buckingham Palace said.
Her Majesty really enjoyed capturing. “Meet Sir Tom and his family in Windsor last year,” the palace said in a statement. “Her thoughts, and the thoughts of the royal family, are there and acknowledge the inspiration he has given to the whole nation and others around the world.”
Flags were dropped at Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office in Downing Street. The British leader described Moore as a ‘hero’ in the true sense of the word. ″
Born in Keighley, West Yorkshire, on April 30, 1920, Moore completed an apprenticeship in civil engineering before being drafted into the Army during the first months of World War II. After being selected for officer training, he rose to the rank of captain while serving in India, Burma and Sumatra.
After leaving the Army in 1946, Moore went to work for the family building firm. After failing, he became a salesman and later a manager for building materials businesses. When the concrete business he worked for had to be threatened with closure, Moore gathered a group of investors and bought it, retaining 60 jobs.
Along the way, he divorces his first wife and falls in love with his employer’s office manager, Pamela. The couple were married, had two daughters and eventually retired to Spain, but returned to England after Pamela Moore became ill.
After his wife died in 2006, Moore moved to the town of Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire to live with his younger daughter, Hannah, and her family.
The former motorcyclist slowed down at the age of 98 after falling and breaking his hip in 2018. A walker replaced his Skoda Yeti, but he kept moving.
During a barbecue in the garden in early April last year, Moore’s family challenged him to walk across the entire 25-foot (82-foot) driveway. After coming to the end, his son-in-law encouraged him to keep going, offering to pay £ 1 for each round and propose a goal of 100 rounds by Moore’s 100th birthday.
The challenge bowled from there.
Moore thought he might be able to raise $ 1,363 for the doctors and nurses who cared for him after he broke his hip, and his family used social media to announce a captain Tom Moore’s 100th birthday walk for the NHS to make. A local radio reporter called first, then national broadcasters. Soon international media was waiting outside the garden gate.
As he pushes his walker up and down the garden, people watching the pandemic first shut down online. Soon, #TomorrowWillBeAGoodDay will be trending on Twitter.
“People have told me that there was something about my walk that captured the hearts of those who were still shocked by the crisis,” Moore wrote in his autobiography. ‘With an increasing number of deaths and the prospect of months of lockdown, everyone was desperate for good news. Apparently, a 99-year-old former army captain who was fighting in Burma was recovering from a broken hip, and was just what they needed to do his part for the NHS. ‘
Prince Harry, Prime Minister Boris Johnson and dozens of celebrities applauded him.
But it was the audience that embraced Captain Tom and flooded the town’s post office with 6,000 gifts and 140,000 birthday cards. Moore was amazed that someone would spend 2 pounds ($ 2.74) on a card for him, and then put on a mask to wait in line at a post office to post it.
He was made an honorary member of the English cricket team, named a train after him, and is recognized with the Freedom of the City of London award.
Moore enjoyed the awards, but focused on others.
He dedicated his autobiography, “Tomorrow will be a good day”, to “everyone who is at the forefront of any battle – whether military, psychological or medical.”
Finally, Captain Tom encouraged the public to look after each other, and he thanked the country that inspired him to inspire him.
“I felt a little frustrated and disappointed after I broke my hip and it hurt my confidence,” he said after completing his pull. ‘The past three weeks, however, have given a spring in my step. I have a new goal and thoroughly enjoyed every second of this exciting adventure, but I can not keep walking forever. ‘