A World War II Navy veteran celebrated his 103rd birthday on Wednesday in Scranton.
SCRANTON, Pa. — It’s a song Albert Liberatore of Scranton has heard before.
And after decades of hearing it, the now 103-year-old Liberatore says, like himself, the happy birthday song has gotten a little old, “Just another one birthday, I mean, no excitement because after 100 years of birthdays, it’s just another birthday,” he said.
Born in West Scranton in 1922, Albert is the oldest of several brothers and sisters, “I lived on 16th Street, 425 16th Avenue right across the street from the lumberyard,” he said.
After high school, Albert joined the Navy, serving his country for four years during World War II.
“The Pacific Ocean aboard the USS Nicholas. That was the DD 449. That’s Destroyer Division 449. What would you say, Any service for the country, it was a pleasant experience,” said Liberatore.
A commitment to his country that was celebrated along with his birthday.
As one of the remaining members of what history calls the ‘Greatest Generation,’ Albert says his secret to a long, successful life is to live every day with a smile, “Smile and it will come along. If you don’t smile, then you’re ugly, you’re miserable, so I say smile, always smile,” he said.