The country, and even some corners of the world, believed that celebrating Raymond Farrell’s 103rd birthday was an endeavor worth a simple gesture that would bring joy, and they were right.
Farrell, a resident at the Oregon Veterans’ Home of Lebanon, turned 103 on July 28 and has been receiving birthday cards ever since. To date he has received 975 cards from every state in the U.S. except Delaware, as well as from Canada, Iraq, Kuwait, Germany, Poland, South Korea and Switzerland.
“The response is tremendous,” Farrell said. “It’s so exciting, and it also tells me that people want to send the folks at home information, and this is a colorful, romantic way to do it, so they just leap on the chance to send their picture on a professional card. It’s very rewarding.”
Family friend Mickey Yordy, added, “It gives you joy, me joy, the staff joy, and the sender of the card joy.”
“Yes, that’s right,” he responded. “It’s a joyous occasion.”
The overwhelming response for a man who’s witnessed a century’s worth of change in the world is the result of a simple post on social media. Yordy explained that in June she invited the community to send cards in the hopes he would receive a total of 103, and it eventually “blossomed from there,” leading to a television news story that apparently went worldwide.
Cards have come from all ages, including little children and, the oldest sender, an 88 year old woman. Some have even sent little care packages, challenge coins and other treasures. Since the duo’s goal for 103 cards has been far surpassed, and since they’re still receiving more, Yordy said they’ll aim for 1,003.
Staff Sgt Raymond Farrell served in the US Army Air Force as a communications engineer during World War II from 1942-1945 in England, France, Italy, and China, Burma, India.
“He looks at every card, and then I’ll sit and read every card,” Yordy said. “I feel like if someone took the time to go to the store, buy a card, address it, (then) I wanna read it. Some of the cards are so heartfelt that I’ll cry. It’s just super sweet how people have taken time. What was meant to encourage him has encouraged 975-plus people around the world.”
Anyone interested in sending a belated birthday card or, heck, wishing him an early 104th birthday, may send cards to the following: Raymond Farrell, Oregon Veterans Home, 600 N 5th St. C214, Lebanon, OR 97355.