Proud to Recognize My Dad, Frank Augustine, one of the Oldest Living Veterans in the USA for his Service

.."Whatever our faith, one belief should bind us all...our willingness to give of ourselves for others and for our country." —Sen. John Kerry

I also want to recognize our fellow citizens who continue to serve our country, and family members like my late uncle Joseph Augustine, my late uncle and godfather, Anthony Augustine and my nephew Andrew Augustine representing the new generation, who has served his country in the US Air Force for 8 years. He will be doing a stint in Portugal soon followed by two years in Japan. 

Three years ago today, my dad Frank Augustine who is nearing 101 years of age was the recipient of two Hudson County Military Service Medals and a Citation Certificate by Hudson County NJ Executive, Thomas A. DeGise, the Office of Veteran Affairs, Anthony Romano and the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Jennifer Gattino, representing the former mayor of Hoboken, Dawn Zimmer for his seven years of service in the US Maritime Service, the US Army at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and Walter Reed National Medical Center as head cook and personal aide to his mentor and friend, Army Chaplain, Capt. William Walsh. He is one of the country's oldest living veterans. 

By Proclamation from our President, this year has been designated National Veterans and Military Families Month. For 98 years, Americans have remembered those who served our country in uniform on 11 November – first as Armistice Day, and then, since 1954 as Veterans Day. In this 99th year of commemoration, the Department of Veterans Affairs is broadening that tradition of observance and appreciation to include both Veterans and Military Families for the entire month of November.

Honoring My Century Year-Old Dad On Father's Day

“Life was a lot simpler when what we honored was our fathers…rather than all major credit cards.” – Robert Orben

During a recent shopping trip to NYC, Michelle and Cecile took a bus to Hoboken, NJ to pay my dad, Frank, a visit. 
They brought him some of his favorite pastries from Panera’s. My sister Josie, who lives nearby was present. Dad was holding court in his office, surrounded by plaques, awards, commendations, proclamations and photos of him
with the local mayor, Dawn Zimmmer, Councilwoman, Jennifer Giattino, state senator, Brian Stack and NJ Freeholder, Anthony Romano for his life of service. I will always be grateful to these fine leaders for honoring him.

Michelle thought it would be a great idea to have her grandpa talk to me on FaceTime. 
He really perked up when he heard his grandson Jason was home with me. “Dad, it's grandpa on Facetime,” he said. 

Thanks to great genes and a peaceful, easy going Buddha-like disposition, my dad is 100 and 5 months old now. 
HIs ever curious mind is still intact. 

Advancing age has slowed him down to be sure.
He uses a walker to get around.
He is blind in one eye due to macular degeneration.
He has limited vision in the remaining eye.
He needs help getting dressed.
He has a live-in caregiver, named Marcelle to help groom and fix his meals. God bless her soul!

But, what I love about him is he doesn’t indulge in self-pity.
In fact, he is fond of saying, “There is always someone else worst off than me." He’s been telling me this since I was a young man.

Every evening I call to check up on him.
“How are you feeling pop?” I ask.
“Pretty good, so far,” he answered matter of factly.
“Good!" I respond.
“Good for nothing,” He says jokingly about his inability to do things he used to do.
He rarely takes himself too seriously, and jokes about his age by saying: “I’m no Spring chicken anymore.”

Over the last several years I have become more patient with him. Since my mom died 4 years ago I began taking an oral history of his life, which generated many newspaper stories.
When I talk to him, whether by phone or during my visits from California, I know I’m in for an evening of reruns, but they are reruns of a great movie, the movie of his life. 

When I’m in his presence, I love to gently kiss the top of his fuzzy balding head—grateful for each precious day he is with us. He has taught me a great deal about aging gracefully. He has an incredible lightness of being about him, and makes it a point to preserve his inner peace no matter what circumstances he finds himself in. He even wears a wrist band that says, “Don’t Worry!”

I once read a quote from G.K. Chesterton that reads: “Angels can fly because they take themselves…lightly.”
That’s my dad!
Happy Father’s Day Pop!❤️

Postscript: The angel on his shoulder is one of a half dozen I gifted him. They gently emit a pulsating light at the heart level. He keeps them on the back of his desk and on his office window sill, happy to have them watch over him.