Gus Preno celebrated his 109th birthday on Monday at River Park Assisted Living.
But that would be putting it mildly.
Preno was feted with a parade and a party attended by hundreds out in front of the building where he lives.
He had no idea.
“I can’t believe it,” Preno said. “I can’t believe so many people are here that I didn’t know before but I know now.”
As he sat in his wheelchair, Preno wore a never-ending smile as he greeted people and posed for pictures.
Gus Preno is presented with a baseball hat during his surprise birthday party on Monday.
“A lot of people are here,” Preno said. “I appreciate it so much.”
Preno was a sailor on the USS Melville, a destroyer tender, during D-Day, June 6, 1944, when the Allies began the liberation of France.
Nearly 82 years later, longer than the average lifespan of an American citizen, Preno is still very much alive and full of humor.
“I guess I’m bad,” Preno said with a laugh. “God doesn’t want me.”
As to his longevity, Preno’s daughter, Chris Stanton said she doesn’t know.
“He says he doesn’t have any secrets,” Stanton said. “His biggest thing is his family. He eats good. He eats what he wants, enjoys his sports. That’s about it.”
Fellow Veterans flock to see Preno
“I think it’s fantastic,” said Michael R. Bishop of the North Myrtle Beach chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. “I’m glad that he’s here and I’m glad to honor him. I didn’t know him before. I knew of him. Fantastic.”
Preno wasn’t the one surprised by size of the party.
“I was actually overwhelmed,” Stanton said. “I knew it was going to be big, but I didn’t know it was going to be as big as it became.”
The procession of visitors created new memories.
“Veterans, policemen, motorcycles, it was phenomenal,” Stanton said. “It’s something my family will remember forever.”
Veterans, including a bagpipe player, were in attendance at Gus Preno’s birthday party on Monday, April 13.
Preno has lived at River Park since 2023.
Bagpipes could be heard in the background as Preno continued to pose for pictures, sometimes holding veterans’ service dogs.
