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Escort for Sidney Walton, San Diego native and WWII veteran, ends in Sorrento Valley

The police escort began in North Hollywood and ended at El Camino Memorial Park in Sorrento Valley.

SAN DIEGO — A World War II veteran was laid to rest after a 125-mile motorcade from Los Angeles to Sorrento Valley on Thursday.

One-hundred-two-year-old Sidney Walton died peacefully on October 2 in Santa Monica. Sidney was born on Feb. 11, 1919, in New York City.

When he returned from the war he married Rena, they had three children and eventually moved from Massachusetts to San Diego to raise their family. 

According to a GoFundMe page organized by his family to help pay for his funeral, for the last three years, Sidney was on a mission to tour around the country meeting all 50 governors and raising awareness for veterans.

Sidney always regretted missing an opportunity to meet some of the last Civil War veterans and wanted to give everyone a chance to meet a WWII veteran before it was too late.

His son Paul Walton said just last Tuesday, Sept. 28, he visited Oklahoma, his 40th state in his 50-state No Regrets Tour, and met with Gov. Kevin Stitt.

"I joined the Army to fight Hitler," said Sidney, who left City College of New York at 21 years old to enlist nine months before Pearl Harbor.

The No Regrets Tour, which began in April 2018, had only 10 more states to go.

"My father was a living piece of history, reminding us not to forget the price of our freedoms today. He inspired tremendous appreciation for all veterans," said Paul Walton.

One of his last events in San Diego was attending the 50th anniversary of Tierrasanta with his son, Paul Walton said in this Facebook post.

The family plans to finish the No Regrets Tour by visiting the 10 remaining states and ending in Delaware.

WATCH: Sidney Walton, San Diego native and WWII veteran, dies at 102

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