Florida's oldest veteran celebrates another birthday: 'Keep breathing and keep living'
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Florida’s oldest living WWII veteran celebrated his 108th birthday in Clearwater on Tuesday.
Bill Monfort was born on December 17, 1916.
Bill Monfort blew out candles on his birthday cake on his 108th birthday.
"I lived a long life, and then I have many, many, many, many friends – not only here, but all over the United States," Monfort said.
READ: Bay area 106-year-old veteran credits close bonds, healthy diet and sense of humor to long life
When he was 12, he learned how to drive a Model T Ford.
"I said, ‘I never drove before!’ [My sister] threw me the keys and turned around and went back to house and said, ‘No better time to learn,’" Monfort told FOX 13 News.
Monfort was a radio operator on a Navy destroyer during WWII. He survived kamikaze attacks and was the first on his ship to learn of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Much later in his life, he survived COVID-19, which put him in the hospital for three weeks.
So when Monfort was admitted to the hospital on Monday – one day before his 108th birthday – nothing was going to stop him from attending his birthday party at the Landmark Assisted Living facility, where he lives in Clearwater.
Bill Monfort listened to speakers at his 108th birthday party at the Landmark Assisted Living facility in Clearwater.
"He was able to leave [the hospital Tuesday morning. He kind of finagled everyone into putting off some things – outpatient tests and things – to later on so he could get here for his party today," Monfort’s daughter, Neppie Alexander, said.
On Tuesday, Clearwater Mayor Bruce Rector and others celebrated Monfort with speeches and cake. The assisted living facility told FOX 13 News he’s received thousands of birthday cards nationwide.
"He is very community-minded," Alexander said. "He talks a lot about WWII, but there are a lot of things that he, together with my mom, were involved in for the betterment of the community, especially underserved populations, especially the developmentally disabled in our community."
After Monfort and his wife’s daughter, Rossie, were born with developmental disabilities, they started the non-profit Angels Unaware so people like Rossie could live in a home-like setting.
Angels Unaware has eight campuses today and is the longest-running group home in Tampa Bay.
Bill Monfort’s 108th birthday party at the Landmark Assisted Living facility in Clearwater.
Ask Monfort the secret to a long life, and his message is simple.
"Keep breathing," Monfort said. "Keep breathing and keep living."
"He’s the Energizer bunny," Alexander said. "He looks forward every year, all year, to his next birthday."
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