Madison County honors WWII veterans celebrating 100+ years of life
MADISON COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — On June 5, four World War II veterans from Madison County, each over 100 years old, were honored with a birthday celebration at the county's senior activity center.
They were just teenagers when they served; only 16, 17 and 18 years old. Many of them weren't drafted but volunteered. Now, eight decades later, they're being celebrated not just for their service, but for their lives.
The event was filled with patriotic decorations, birthday balloons and a room packed with friends, family and fellow veterans.
'It was wonderful,' said organizer Jannie Layne. 'This place was packed.'
The honorees included 100-year-old Marine Corps veteran Loy Watson, 102-year-old Denton Grubbs, 100-year-old William Bowling and 100-year-old W.J. Combs.
'You know, a lot of these young fellows…. you never know much about the war,' Watson said. 'Somebody then tells you.'
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Hubert Combs traveled from Tennessee to celebrate with his brother W.J. Combs
'It's about the freedom we enjoy, the freedom they helped maintain,' said Hubert Combs, a veteran himself.
Over sweet tea, birthday cake and heartfelt speeches, the day was both a tribute and a reunion. The original celebration expanded beyond the four centenarians, as 10 to 12 other veterans in attendance were also honored.
'It makes me makes me cry, makes me so emotional to think about all the things that these men went through and their families went through,' Layne said. 'We got to honor them in a little way to say thank you.'
The celebration served as a powerful reminder of what journalist Tom Brokaw famously called 'the greatest generation any society has ever produced.'
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