A World War II veteran who appealed for birthday cards after the coronavirus outbreak forced the cancellation of a big party wound up receiving thousands, including a letter from President Trump, and celebrated his 105th birthday Sunday with a parade of well-wishers in cars, military vehicles and even an appearance from a Los Angeles County sheriff’s helicopter.
“It’s a marvelous feeling, yes, really,” Lt. Col. Sam Sachs said while watching the caravan pass by Mom & Dad’s House, a senior living home in a residential neighborhood in Lakewood. “The emotions are running so high ... It just doesn’t get any better than this. It’s just unbelievable. This is a dream.”
The Army veteran — who wore his uniform for a video posted on YouTube titled “Sam Sachs 105 BDAY Wish” — said he wondered how many cards he would get after his birthday party was called off.
Since then, Sachs has received at least 6,200 cards from across the U.S., with even more sitting in a basket outside his home Sunday.
The roughly hourlong parade included classic and modern cars and motorcycles, along with nearly a dozen Los Angeles County sheriff’s vehicles and a county firetruck with sirens blaring, along with the sheriff’s helicopter flying over the neighborhood.
Some of the vehicles were decorated with large American flags, balloons and signs honoring Sachs, with the vehicles’ occupants wishing him a happy birthday, thanking him for his military service and waving as he waved back and thanked them over and over again from a distance.
“I just can’t believe it. I can’t believe all this is happening. Gee whiz!” he said, while speaking from a microphone near the frontyard, which was decked with hundreds of small, donated American flags. “Thank you, folks. Thank you for making my day. I had no idea what to expect ... This is magical.”
In an interview Friday with City News Service, Sachs said it has been exciting to get cards from all over the country.
The deliveries have included a letter and a photo from Trump citing the “tremendous milestone” and his “dedicated service to our country during World War II,” along with a framed flag delivered by about a dozen members of the Army National Guard.
Sachs — who served in the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division, participated in the Normandy invasion and was later part of a unit that helped liberate a concentration camp in Germany — also received a letter from the mayor of his birth city, Grand Forks, N.D. , who proclaimed the day in his honor.
He is also expected to receive proclamations from Southern California-area politicians, including Lakewood’s mayor, Todd Rogers, who had called on the public to send cards to Sachs.
“How many World War II vets are around who landed at Normandy almost 76 years ago in a glider of all things, pulled by an airplane?” he wondered aloud, noting that he was inducted recently into France’s Legion of Honor.
Sachs, who had a teaching career in Southern California after his military service, said he’s also received birthday gifts from strangers. The presents have included $50 from a man who visited he home after seeing a news report about his birthday, Sachs said, adding the response has been “really touching.”
“He’s being overwhelmed in a good way right now,” said Ivonne Meader, who owns the assisted living home where the centenarian resides. “Every day is more. Every day ]it] just multiplies more.”
Meader said the birthday was giving people an opportunity “to be part of something special.”
When asked if his 105th birthday is his favorite, Sachs responded, “You bet it’s my favorite birthday. The question is will I be here at 106? Who knows? Who knows? I’ll work at it. You’d better believe I’ll work at it.”
A group of people who had gathered in the neighborhood to cheer, prompting him to say that he would be happy to repeat it. “This is once in a lifetime, maybe more than once, hopefully. We’ll see,” he said with a laugh.
As the parade of cars wound to an end, Sachs said, “We’ll do this again next year.”
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