What's Old But New Again?

The “new’ Old Guard takes great pride in honoring George Klein at our 25th annual picnic to be held on Tuesday, June 7 at Northland Recreation Center. George has been an active member for 25 years, a great “story teller,” our Chaplain and just a great member.

He’s also instrumental in our adding “new” to our logo. Just recently, the Old Guard passed a unanimous resolution to accept men 55 or older regardless of employment status. George believes the fellowship offered by the Old Guard should be expanded and shared to all men 55 or older.

George was born in 1920 in Newark and graduated from West Side High School. During WWII he served in the Navy. He married his sweetheart after the war and in 1954,they bought a new split level house in Livingston on Bellmont Drive for $16,000. They raised three sons and George and his wife, Doris, were very active volunteers in the community. 

George retired at 62 after working 37 years at Bell Telephone Company. He became a charter member of AARP and also joined the Old Guard. Doris passed away in 1991 and George keeps active with the Old Guard activities, AARP and other senior organizations.

 In 2007, George submitted the winning essay in the County’s senior essay contest. The title of the essay was, “My Dad’s Gift To Me.”

Part of the essay reads as follows:  I enlisted in the Navy and on the day I was reporting for duty my Dad said to me, “Be careful your mother would be devastated if anything happened to her Baby.”

The essay continues, “the ride to Broad Street was a lonely one. I guess a natural feeling because of the unknown ahead of me.” After reporting at the recruiting station, “ I lined up with the other recruits who were apprehensive young men just like me -- all strangers to each other.” We were told to line up in a formation of fours outside and then march the mile and a half to Penn Station where we would board a train to Newport.

“When I got outside, I spotted my father and was quite surprised to see him. He had taken the next bus and waited outside for two hours. I was on the outside of the line in the formation, and he fell in beside me and we marched shoulder to shoulder to Penn Station, not an easy job for an elderly, not well man. (note, George’s parents both died while he was in the service).

“ I cannot describe the felling of pride and strength that he invoked in me. I was no longer timid or afraid of what might lie ahead. Now as I look back, that walk alongside my dad on that special day is as clear and real as if it was yesterday. My eyes always tear up at the recollection. I tried to be the dad to my three sons that my dad was to me. Now i see them giving those same values to their children. Wasn’t that a wonderful gift my dad gave to me so long ago."

 The “New” Old Guard feels the same way about George. He has been a wonderful gift to us these past 25 years and we look forward to honoring him at our picnic next Tuesday!