It was one heck of a reunion for Clarkston resident Nick Lekas.
The World War II veteran recently had a reunion with three of his fellow veterans in Washington, D.C.
‘We had not seen each other in 52 years,? Lekas said. ‘We had lost contact. I always wondered where those guys were and how I could get in contact with them.?
Enter the Internet. One of the veterans, Thomas Costello, is well versed in computers and was able to track down Lekas and fellow soldiers Lewis Kardos and Frank Beach.
‘Costello just contacted me out of the blue. It was a big surprise but it was great. I was flabbergasted and happy,? Lekas said. ‘Beach was in New Jersey and Kardos now lives in Maryland. Costello contacted me from Missouri.?
After the first contact last June, Lekas and Costello would speak on the phone about once a week. They would reminisce about old times and also catch up on the last 52 years. They talked about getting everyone together and it finally happened in September.
They decided to meet in Washington, D.C. and Costello’s nephew Jerry, who is a congressman from Illinois, made arrangements for them to see all the sights. The four toured the White House, the Capitol building and other national landmarks in a vacation Lekas will not soon forget.
‘It was a remarkable event. It was just like seeing family,? Lekas said. ‘It was also kind of weird. Nobody looked the same. Back then we were 19- or 20-years-old and now we were close to 80.?
The group spent eight days in Washington, D.C. Lekas brought his friend and fellow Clarkston resident Dottie Allen along for the trip.
‘Those four guys would never quit talking. They were having a great time,? Allen said. ‘Us ladies had the time of our lives meeting these new people. We went a lot of places and took a lot of pictures.?
Costello has used his computer skills to send each guy a calendar with photos taken from the trip.
The four veterans continue to keep in contact and are planning on making the trip a yearly event.
‘This is definitely going to be a yearly event and we are going to do something again next summer,? Allen said. ‘It was a remarkable experience. We are so grateful to the congressman for making the plans for us to do all that great sight-seeing.?
The fact that he got to see his three friends again is still a shock to Lekas.
‘I can’t believe what happened. I had an unlisted number for a lot of years and I just recently changed. I am so glad I did,? Lekas said.