Annette Z., 91, of The Pointe at Newport Place in Boynton Beach, FL, is a courageous and selfless woman who is devoted to her country. During World War II, her two older brothers and twin brother all served in the Navy. She said she could not just sit around while her loved ones were serving in the war, so she joined the Navy as a member of WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). Annette was stationed in the WAVES Quarter “K” in Arlington, Virginia and has very fond memories from that time in her life. Her Wish of a Lifetime was to once again visit Washington, D.C., to see the WWII Memorial.
Annette, her three brothers, and her husband were all WWII veterans. She holds a special place in her heart for those who served in war and thus was heavily involved with veteran-focused nonprofits, such as Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the Wounded Warrior Project. When the WWII Memorial first opened in 2004, she visited the memorial site with her husband. She would like to go back, over 10 years later, to commemorate the service and honor of her three brothers and her husband, who have all passed away since she last visited.
Annette has faced many significant obstacles throughout her life, but her strong-willed personality helps her maintain a positive outlook. Thanks to Wish of a Lifetime and Brookdale, Annette’s dream became a reality in May 2015, when she will flew from Boynton Beach, FL to Washington, D.C. with her daughter to visit the WWII Memorial one last time.
During their stay there, Annette and her daughter also visited the Navy Memorial, met with a senator, went on an exclusive tour of the Capitol, and took a trolley tour of Washington, D.C. “I just love Washington, D.C. There’s been much change in the last 70 years since I was there,” Annette says, “I’m so proud to have been stationed there. Being there again was a real thrill.”
