Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021 marked an important date in the United States. Lawrence Brooks, the oldest living World War II veteran in the U.S., turned 112 years old. Brooks, who is from Louisiana and has resided in New Orleans since 1929, was drafted into the army in 1940. He joined the Army’s mostly Black 91st Engineer Battalion. During the war, he was stationed in the Philippines and New Guinea building infrastructure such as roads, airstrips, and bridges. On his birthday, the National World War II Museum hosted a drive-by party for him. This party included festivities such as a Jeep parade, a live show from the National WWII Museum’s vocal trio and performances from New Orleans’s popular musicians. He also received an official proclamation from the city of New Orleans to recognize this important day. Another surprise in the celebration was when Brooks received a special greeting from Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, who also tweeted the state’s gratitude and well wishes for Brooks on his special day.