Rain did not stop the revelry, as veterans, first responders, local dignitaries, neighbors, and community members paraded from West End Firehouse to American Legion Post 927 in Gilbert to celebrate Raymond Benensky’s 100th birthday on Sunday afternoon.

“I can’t believe all this is happening. Someone pinch me and wake me up,” said Benensky, as he sat at the head table inside the Legion, which was decorated with banners and balloons.

Benensky said it was a total surprise. He received a call earlier in the morning that a parade of vehicles — firetrucks, ambulances, Pennsylvania State Police cars, pickup trucks with large American flags and other cars — would pick him up from his residence on Countryside Drive, off Route 115 near the Pleasant Valley Middle School, and take him to the Legion for his party. The Legion motorcycle riders opted for their vehicles rather than their bikes because of the rain.

“I thought there’d be a few people and cake. Not all this,” he said, as more people trickled into the social hall and came up front to wish him a happy birthday.

Benensky shared the front table with his son and daughter-in-law, John and Annette Benensky, and other family members. The centenarian has four children, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. His wife, Frances, died in 2021. John’s sisters, Renee and Francine, live out of state and could not attend; John’s brother Ray is deceased. At other tables throughout the hall sat firefighters, police officers, service members, veterans, local dignitaries and community members who saw an invitation to celebrate a centenarian on a Facebook post.

“I am very proud of my community, this Legion and the veterans for putting all this together today,” said Everett Shaver Jr., Commander of the American Legion Post 927. “This started as a Facebook post to have 100 cards made for him. Then a party. Then a parade. This event kept growing.”

Later during the party, Shaver and Zach Taylor, Legion vice commander, presented Benensky with a plaque, fully paid life Legion membership, and folded the American flag in his honor.

Benensky was born Feb. 16, 1925. near Pittsburgh. The family moved to Frackville and later Whippany, New Jersey.

“I have read your biography. You told a little white lie so you could go serve with your buddies,” said PA Sen. Rosemary Brown, who was one of many to present him with an accolade.

Benensky was actually 17, but said he was 18, when he enlisted in the Army and went off to World War II. He served from 1943 to 1945. He was a heavy machine-gunner in North Africa and parts of Italy. He received two Purple Hearts, one for being shot in the arm and hand and other for being injured by shrapnel. He also received two bronze medals.

He married Frances in 1946 and worked as a plumber and welder. They moved to Brodheadsville in 1986.

Party attendees watched two special video messages. The first was from PA Sen. Dave McCormick who wished Benensky a happy birthday and called him “a great Pennsylvanian.”

The second video was of a crowd of Pleasant Valley Elementary students holding a large banner that says, “Happy 100th Birthday!,” and was signed by students and hung above the buffet table during the party.

After the students sang Happy Birthday, they all chanted “are you 10, are you 20, are you 30, are you 40, are you 50, are you 60, are you 70, are you 80, are you 80, are you 90, are you 100?” and began to cheer.

Benensky received nearly 1,000 handmade cards from Pleasant Valley students in grades kindergarten through eighth. They hung on a string above partygoers heads. He also received another 150 cards in a mailbag, which were from PA residents and others from across the country.

Rep. Jack Rader said he was impressed by the parade and the party. He thanked Benensky for his military service, and shared how his father was also a veteran who had received a parade for his milestone birthday.

Chestnuthill Township supervisors Chuck Gould, Eric Snyder and Roger Kutzler presented him with Resolution 2025-3, which declared him a Hometown Hero.

“Your Hometown Hero banner will be placed on a pole in the roundabout,” said Gould.

He received a Quilt of Valor from several people representing the Quilts of Valor Foundation, whose first quilt in 2003 went to a man who lost a leg in Iraq. Now in its 21st year, the foundation has made and handed out more than 400,000 quilts to service members and veterans.

A handful of people representing NEPA Vets Serving Vets made him a sheet cake with four photos that his family had provided. They also gave him a $100 bill and a vintage gift bag with historical information from the year 1925.

In 1925, Calvin Coolidge was the president of the United States. The country had a population of 115 million people. Gas was 22 cents per gallon. A man’s suit cost $12. The annual household income was about $3,700. A dozen eggs cost about 35 cents. Benensky was born the same year as Dick Van Dyke, Malcom X and B.B. King.

After the speeches and presentations, guests lined up to shake hands with Benensky and personally wish him a happy birthday as Legion kitchen staff got ready to serve the buffet lunch.

“Everyone did an awesome job celebrating my dad. He loves sharing his stories. He’s an Energizer Bunny, who keeps going. Age isn’t slowing him down,” said John Benensky.