ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — A World War II hero celebrated 101 years of life with a birthday parade more than 200 people strong in St. Johns County Saturday morning.
At 101 years old, Valeria Ryan is still living every day to the fullest.
“Oh I’m a good dancer, I dance all the time," Ryan said.
She's spent over a century on this Earth, using her life to help others.
“She raised several children, and life was tough on the farm, so she always wanted to give back," Eileen Alexon, one of Ryan's daughter, said.
Born in 1923, in Albion, Michigan, she joined the navy at the age of 19 and was selected to train servicemen on military bombs. Ryan said that in the Navy she had some of her best times in her life.
“Teaching the men how to land the bombs and she met the love of her life while in the service," Alexon said.
She later raised seven children prior to entering nursing school at 48.
“She knew how important health care was and how important it was for the community to help one another," Alexon said.
Now retired and surrounded by family, she has not lost that spark to make others smile.
“What’s my secret to a long life? Drink all the booze you can drink,” Ryan said.
Ryan lives at The Clyde E. Lassen State Veterans’ Nursing Home in St. Augustine, which provides medical care to veteran residents.