Today, JJ’s Star Spangled Salute honors Veteran Ned Felder and his friend of 56 years, Kristina Olson. An Army captain in the Vietnam War and a young girl from Michigan struck up an unlikely relationship 56 years ago as pen pals. Ned Felder received 13-year-old Kristina Olson’s care package almost by accident in 1967, when the teen reached out to “any soldier” fighting in the war as part of a Camp Fire Girls project. The corresponded a lot over the years, lost touch a few times, lived their own lives and experiences and earlier this month — on Veterans Day — the long-lost pen pals united for the first time. During their in-person meeting, Feeney was able to tell Felder how much he had influenced her life. Thank you both for sharing this story and THANK YOU Ned for your service.
