Greg Honors Heroes at the 9/11 Memorial

Greg, a 67-year-old Air Force veteran and foster parent, knows tomorrow is never promised.

He served his country as an E4 sergeant in the Air Force stationed at the Strategic Air Command Headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, holding the position of Photo Imagery Interpreter. There, he was tasked with analyzing film akin to the methods employed during the Cuban Missile Crisis. As part of this specialized unit, he possessed top-secret security clearance. During this time, Greg discovered his calling in the honor guard, participating in over 250 funerals. This period solidified his connection to the country and instilled in him a profound respect for those who serve.

Beyond his military service, Greg’s commitment to helping others has been a consistent theme in his life. Alongside his wife Denise, Greg dedicated over 20 years of his life to serving as a foster parent for at-risk teenagers in Omaha. In this nurturing environment, Greg and Denise provided a haven, offering them a taste of normal family life, complete with shared meals and holidays.

“I am committed to helping others—I love people,” Greg said. “I feel accomplished at the end of the day if I can get someone to smile.”

His love for people extends to his involvement in the Citizens Police Academy, Masons, and Branson Veterans of America 913, where he actively engages in initiatives to support fellow veterans and their families.

In 2022, life took an unexpected turn when Greg was diagnosed with stage 4 lymphoma. Despite the odds, he beat the disease, but not without sacrifice.

The shoulders and legs that once bore the weight of his brothers and sisters lost their strength, and he was left unable to walk. He missed some of life’s most cherished moments, like being able to walk his daughter down the wedding aisle.

These events took both a physical and emotional toll on Greg. Yet, a fire ignited within him, and Greg set his sights on a new act of remembrance. The impact of September 11, 2001, had deeply affected him. Through his battle with cancer, his longing to pay tribute to the nearly 3,000 lives lost persisted yet remained out of reach.

“Before I die, I want to see the 9/11 Memorial— it’s the only thing that I have left to do,” Greg said.

With the help of Wish of a Lifetime, Greg embarked on a pilgrimage to the 9/11 Memorial in New York City, a journey to a place where the echoes of heroism reverberate.

“I was just in awe of New York City,” Greg recalled after the trip. “I was so emotional. I feel gratitude for living in this country and for the rights that we have as Americans.”

Greg and Denise were fascinated by the diverse range of people they met in the city. They were profoundly impacted by meeting a fireman from Ladder 10 and by overlooking the hole on the South Tower which includes all the names of the deceased.

“This is going to have such a positive impact on his life,” Denise said. “He is now recommending that others go to visit New York!”