With its motorcade of different vehicles, some of which had American flags draping from them, the procession Friday at Pacifica Senior Living could have easily been mistaken for a 4th of July procession.
However, with America’s birthday a month away, the parade was actually for something just as significant: resident Theodore Mertz’s 100th birthday.
A procession was held for the World War II veteran outside the memory care facility Friday, with cars, gifts, music and most of Mertz’s family present.
“It’s emotional, exciting for us,” his daughter, Sue Shurtleff, said. “He’s excited we were decorating.”
Theodore Albertus Mertz was born June 24, 1921 in Danville, Illinois as one out of 11 children. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, Mertz enlisted in the Navy and was stationed in the Philippines for the duration of the war, where he mastered the Tagalog language he continues to use. He was honorably discharged as a first-class V-6 aviation ordinance man Dec. 1, 1945.
Following the war, Mertz remained in the Philippines as a crane operator where he met a woman named Claire, the daughter of the owner of the boarding house he was staying in. Theodore and Claire later wed and had four daughters. Claire died in 2005.
The Mertzes moved to the Sacramento area in 1951 and to Vallejo in 1958. Mertz’s daughter, Mona Pierce, said he worked for Syar Industries for 27 years, where he was involved in several construction projects including helping to build Interstate 780 from Vallejo to Benicia.
“He drove a tractor and put those roads in,” she said.
Additionally, Mertz has seven grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren with a sixth on the way. Having lived in Vallejo for the last 63 years, Mertz recently moved into Pacifica Senior Living.
Pierce said her father wanted a party for his 100th birthday. Residents celebrating their centennials at Pacifica is fairly rare, as Pierce said the next youngest person at the center is 85.
“It doesn’t happen very often,” she said. “We are excited. We’re holding our breath because anything can happen to somebody at that age, and we’re like, ‘Come on, he’s got to make it ’til he’s a hundred!'”
Pierce said Mertz’s brother lived to be 93 and a sister lived until 97.
“They seem to have long life in his family,” she said.
Mertz’s granddaughter, Lindsay Martin, said the family has been planning for the occasion since his 95th birthday.
“Once he hit 95, we knew he was going to make it to 100,” she said. “At 95, he was still driving and living essentially independently with my aunt staying with him.”
Shurtleff said she has a board counting down the number of days until her father’s 100th.
“Every day, I change the number,” she said.
One thing that made the celebration special was that it fell exactly on Mertz’z birthday with several family members present and some coming from as far away as Washington State. Adding to this special celebration was that Martin’s 14-year-old son, Trevor, was celebrating a birthday as well.
“He actually shares his birthday with my son,” she said. “They’re 86 years apart.”
Traditionally, Martin said she takes a picture of Trevor and her grandfather on their birthdays and was planning to do so again later in the day.
Shurtleff said she loved her father’s forgiving and positive attitude.
“He’s always so kind to everyone,” she said. “He never says anything bad about anybody.”
Mertz’s humor was evidently still sharp. When asked how he felt to be turning 100, his response was a terse “Alive.”
Shurtleff said she believes the reason her father has lived so long is due to him not stressing over things.
“When somebody passes away that he knows, he just thinks of the positive things they did and how much fun he had with them,” she said. “He doesn’t dwell on being sad about it.”
After being wheeled outside of the courtyard into the parking lot where a ceremony was held, Rosa Gracida — Pacifica’s marketing director — commented on the significant achievement.
“He moved to the community a couple of months ago and when I looked at his birthday and that he was going to turn 100, I said ‘We have to celebrate this,'” she said. “There is less than 2 percent World War II veterans (alive) today, and this is a major, major milestone.”
Mertz was then presented with a proclamation by Assemblyman Jim Frazier congratulating him for turning 100, and Travis Air Force Base airmen presented him with a flag that was flown aboard a C-5. He also received a quilt from Adopt a Grandparent, and flower bouquets from members of the Vacaville police and fire departments, and current and retired members of the Navy, Army and Air Force.
From there, Mertz was treated to a parade with vehicles including a Medic Ambulance truck, lowrider and classic cars like a GTO, Camaro and even a Model T. All the while, a pianist played 1920s and ’30s hits like “Ain’t Misbehavin'” and “Deep Purple,” and several people called out from their vehicles thanking Mertz for his service. In return, he waved, applauded or saluted during much of the parade.
The procession ended with Pink Heels Solano’s big pink firetruck and police car. Three young boys stepped out, saluted Mertz and then put their hands over their hearts as Whitney Houston’s rendition of the national anthem played. Upon the conclusion, confetti was fired out of poppers.
Pierce said there is a lot of pride in her family.
“My niece, his granddaughter, said, ‘It makes us proud to feel that we have somebody who’s survived that long,'” she said.
Following the parade, the family members went into the center’s Journey House for cake and ice cream.
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