BENSALEM, Pa. (WPVI) -- World War II veteran Joe D'Emidio received a birthday surprise on Friday outside Parx Casino in Bensalem: a motorcade escort in his honor.D'Emidio turns 101 on Sunday."We continue to honor him every day because every day is a gift with him," said Dyane D'Emidio, his daughter.A lifelong resident of Bristol, Joe enlisted in the Navy as a teenager. Holding a photo of himself at just 19, he reflected on his time in uniform."In the service, I had a good time," he said....
BENSALEM, Pa. (WPVI) -- World War II veteran Joe D'Emidio received a birthday surprise on Friday outside Parx Casino in Bensalem: a motorcade escort in his honor.
D'Emidio turns 101 on Sunday.
"We continue to honor him every day because every day is a gift with him," said Dyane D'Emidio, his daughter.
A lifelong resident of Bristol, Joe enlisted in the Navy as a teenager. Holding a photo of himself at just 19, he reflected on his time in uniform.
"In the service, I had a good time," he said.
But his service came with danger. On June 6, 1944, Joe landed in Normandy during the D-Day invasion.
"I was in Normandy on D-Day, took the troops off the ships, took them to the beach," he recalled.
After the war, D'Emidio built a full life: three children, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
His daughter says she's grateful for the foundation he created.
"He went and did this war at such a young age, came out of it, brushed himself off, raised a beautiful family, gave us the best education," she said.
Joe also shared his secret to a long life.
"Keep breathing, and don't eat chicken," he joked.
"Keep breathing" has become a family motto, even tattooed on his grandson Matt's arm.
"I get to learn and laugh and realize you don't have to take it too seriously... His big saying is 'no problem,'" said Matt D'Emidio.
That mindset carries through everything Joe does, even at the blackjack table. At 101, he says the secret to life is simple: don't sweat the small stuff.
"Ninety-nine percent of the things you worry about never happen. There's some real truth to that, you know," Matt said.