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.<\/p>\n
D’Emidio turns 101 on Sunday.<\/p>\n
“We continue to honor him every day because every day is a gift with him,” said Dyane D’Emidio, his daughter.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“In the service, I had a good time,” he said.<\/p>\n
But his service came with danger. On June 6, 1944, Joe landed in Normandy during the D-Day invasion.<\/p>\n
“I was in Normandy on D-Day, took the troops off the ships, took them to the beach,” he recalled.<\/p>\n
After the war, D’Emidio built a full life: three children, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.<\/p>\n
His daughter says she’s grateful for the foundation he created.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
Joe also shared his secret to a long life.<\/p>\n
“Keep breathing, and don’t eat chicken,” he joked.<\/p>\n
“Keep breathing” has become a family motto, even tattooed on his grandson Matt’s arm.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“Ninety-nine percent of the things you worry about never happen. There’s some real truth to that, you know,” Matt said.<\/p>\n
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