Mission BBQ, 11000 Roosevelt Blvd., recently welcomed World War II veterans Jake Ruser and Frank Tighe for a celebration of their 100th birthdays.
Ruser, of Mayfair, turned 100 on Dec. 27, one day before the event at Mission BBQ.
Tighe, of Atco, New Jersey, will turn 100 on Jan. 23 and spent the day before the event winning some money at the Borgata.
Both men served in the U.S. Army.
Joining in the celebration was another World War II Army veteran, 101-year-old Benjamin Berry, who fought in the Battle of the Bulge.
Mission BBQ community ambassador Shannon Sperduto organized the gathering, and everyone sang the Star-Spangled Banner when, as is the daily tradition, the anthem played at noon.
The crowd also sang Happy Birthday to Ruser and Tighe, who were treated to lunch and cake.
Warriors’ Watch Riders were in attendance and presented stars of an American flag and challenge coins to Ruser and Tighe.
Former Municipal Court Judge Pat Dugan, an Army veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and who is challenging District Attorney Larry Krasner in the Democratic primary, presented Ruser and Tighe with Pennsylvania Supreme Court coins.
“You are the greatest generation,” said Dugan, who was on the same plane as Ruser as they traveled to France in June for the observance of the 80th anniversary of D-Day..
As part of his service during World War II, Ruser landed in Normandy, France on D-Day, June 6, 1944, serving as a combat medic.
Tighe, whose daughters Mary and Theresa and grandchildren and great-grandchildren joined him at Mission BBQ, served in the Battle of the Bulge.
Steve Landry, president of the Battle of the Bulge Association, presented Tighe, Berry and Ruser (whose infantry regiment removed seriously wounded soldiers from the battlefield) with walnuts in memory of Gen. Anthony McAuliffe, who famously said, “Nuts,” in response to a German demand of surrender.
“We need to keep the memory of that battle alive,” Landry said.
Others on hand included, state Sen.-elect Joe Picozzi, the Second Alarmers and members of Boy Scout Troop 208 and American Legion Post 405. ••
