A WWII veteran who ‘deserves everything’ gets a surprise 100th birthday party and a letter from Gov. Mikie Sherrill 40%
By Lacey Latch48%
7/19/2026, 10:02:00 AM
BS Summary: This article contains 19 faulty reasoning types, including Appeal to Authority, Anecdotal, and In-Group Bias, with Halo Effect as the most egregious example at 41.7% saturation with 332 hits. Analysis detected 1,031 faulty-reasoning hits from 797 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 44.9% and a BS Rank of 40% (13,257 of 21,887 articles). This article is better (less manipulative) than 60.60% of the article peer group.
With a century of life under his belt, it’s not easy to get much past World War II veteran Stephen Anderson.
But last Tuesday, Anderson was surprised to return home to find a large 100th birthday celebration in his honor with gifts, commendations, and even a letter from Gov.
Mikie Sherrill waiting for him.
Wearing both a T-shirt and belt buckle emblazoned with the United States Marine Corps emblem, Anderson entered the dining room at the Wynwood Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Cinnaminson with a big smile as his friends, fellow veterans, neighbors, and more sang “Happy Birthday.”
Each of Anderson’s arms are adorned with prominent dark tattoos that have now mostly faded to outlines, the finer details lost to time.
As cupcakes and ice cream were passed around, Anderson was quick to laugh as he joked with the staff and reunited with longtime friends from the American Legion, where he has been a member for 82 years.
“It’s amazing,” he said in between bouts of banter with old friends.
“It’s great because I can’t get out like I used to,” he said.
Now, everyone’s come to him.
The party was put together by the staff at Wynwood, where he has lived since 2023 and has since become a beloved resident.
Stephanie Ward, Wynwood’s director of social work, was the driving force behind the celebration, organizing the party and contacting the Legion, the Tun Legacy Foundation, and the governor’s office to recognize Anderson for his lifetime of service.
“He’s so amazing, he’s got a kind heart,” Ward said.
“All the veterans always have a special place in my heart and this big milestone, you’ve got to celebrate it.”
Not one to draw attention to himself, she joked that Anderson would probably give her a hard time for setting up the elaborate surprise party for him.
“I’m going to get yelled at later,” she said with a laugh.
“But he deserves everything.”
Separated by oceans and decades, it is clear that Anderson’s military service is still close to his heart.
Originally from Massachusetts, he enlisted in the Marines at just 17 years old and was quickly sent to fight in some of the most harrowing battles of WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
A rare two-branch veteran, Anderson also served in the Air Force from 1961 to 1963.
“Where he fought is legendary.
Saipan, Okinawa — some of the largest battles of the war,” said Patrick Dailey, a Marine and founder of the Tun Legacy Foundation, which is working to rebuild Philadelphia’s historic Tun Tavern, where the Marine Corps was born in the 17th century.
To honor his years of service and sacrifice, Anderson was presented with official letters from Gov.
Mikie Sherrill, the New Jersey legislature, and various levels of American Legion leadership.
Anderson seemed particularly moved by messages from his fellow Marines — personal letters from the Marine Corps commandant, the highest-ranking officer, and the sergeant major of the Marine Corps, the most senior enlisted member of the service.
He was also gifted an American flag that was flown over the U.S.
Marine Corps Memorial by troops in Washington, D.C., on July 4 for him.
While Anderson said he expected some of the Wynwood staff might be up to something for his birthday, he said he was not anticipating the celebration that had formed around him.
Brought to New Jersey in the 60s “by Uncle Sam,” as he put it, Anderson spent many years living in Burlington and has long been a dedicated member of American Legion Local Post 39 based in Roebling, at one point serving as commander.
Looking back, he said one of the best parts of the job was simply getting to drive all over rural South Jersey.
“I kind of miss that, I used to travel all the back roads,” he said with a smile.
Anderson has lived “a lifetime of service to the military, to the country, to the American Legion,” said longtime friend Chuck Robbins, a former national vice commander of the American Legion who worked with Anderson.
“You couldn’t ask for a more outstanding vice commander.
Somebody who did their job to the fullest and always had my back — I will never forget the service you gave to me,” he said as he presented Anderson with a letter from the national commander of the Legion.
Looking at the flag in its shadow box, numerous framed commendations, piles of birthday cards and more laid out on the table before him, Anderson joked with Ward that they’d need to work out a plan to accommodate all of his gifts.
“You better get me a bigger room!”
he said, laughing.
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