The last birthdays
We will not have these photos in 2035. The actuarial tables say the last American WWII veteran will die around 2031-2033.
That means every "102nd birthday" post you see in 2026 is one of the final ones. Each is a living primary source, not a history book.
The man in the blue hat isn't asking for much — just to be seen on his birthday, on a beach he probably stormed toward 80 years earlier in a different country.
So yes: Happy 102nd birthday, sir. Thank you for holding the sign yourself. Thank you for still smiling at the sea.
If you shared the photo, you did good. If you want to do better, find the veteran on your own street and wish him happy birthday in person — while we still can.
