When Anthony J. “Tony” Hehn’s wife Nancy told him to put on his uniform dress shirt last Saturday for a dinner outing, she relays that “he was mad that he had to wear that out to dinner.” Unbeknownst to him, they were headed to a surprise party for his 100th birthday (actually Aug. 25) at the American Legion (Post 3) where he has spent decades as a member and volunteer – and where it was apparent that he soon forgot about the shirt and had a great time reminiscing with well-wishers.
Over the course of the evening, several dozen friends, family, fellow college alums and politicians stopped by to congratulate him and commemorate the occasion. State Senator John Edwards and Congressman Bob Goodlatte, both on hand to deliver certificates of recognition, spent time chatting with the group; many a conversation centered on the amazing mental acuity and physical agility Hehn possesses for a person his age.
Steve Storch, a 1967 Notre Dame alum, traveled from Oak Ridge Tennessee for the party. Storch and the Hehn family met at a college reunion weekend and have stayed in touch ever since; struggling for the right words to encompass his admiration for Hehn, Storch finally said, “He’s just a remarkable person – really.”
A WWII veteran with a slight build, Hehn gets around surprisingly well. In fact, several times he had to be told to go ahead and “just sit down.” When he took to the mike to address the group and thank them for coming by for his birthday celebration, he invited any and all Notre Dame alumni (Hehn is Class of ’42) and fans to join him in the “fight song.” He belted it out from start to finish, never wavering, to the delight of everyone in the room. Hehn relished the enthusiastic response – he clearly enjoys being around people – and holding the rather rare title of centenarian, which garners a bit of extra attention, suits him just fine.
In his impromptu address, Hehn said, “What a big gesture; from the bottom of my heart, I’ll never forget this and everyone who showed up … I don’t know how… I haven’t the faintest idea how [he got to be 100] … I was an altar boy, I served Mass, I was great for prayer, I’ve been good to people.” Part-time caregiver for the Hehns, Sue Rohmer, later added that “he prays three or four times a day.”
Many in the room were American Legion members who have known Hehn for years. One longtime friend, Tom Bradley, another WWII vet who calls himself “a 1925 model,” brought a carefully wrapped package which contained a cap he had monogrammed with “Tony Hehn’s 100 years.”
Hehn enjoys telling the story of his enlistment experience, beginning with the fact that “at 32 I was older than most recruits, which was a big advantage for me, because I knew more.” He can’t stop grinning as he relays that “I looked around the mess hall where they served beans and pickles. I said ‘holy smokes’ something must be wrong here. No one is getting enough to eat – there is no food value in this meal. I went over the heads of some people and told the Captain, who agreed. [For some reason] three days later, they shipped me out of there.” He thinks that was because “they didn’t want to have to feed me!”
As it turned out, Hehn spent his service stateside, which allowed his wife Nancy (who is a very young 98) to accompany him to both Jackson, Miss., and Miami where he served, before they returned to Marion, Va. after the war. Hehn retired from a career at Brunswick in Marion and later moved to Roanoke to be near their daughter and her only son, Anthony Russell, who is now an attorney with Gentry Locke.
A life serving others, years in retirement spent volunteering at Bingo nights, and heavy involvement with American Legion Baseball have kept Hehn busy doing things he loves, and in the process he has won the hearts of many.
Steve Storch left a letter with Hehn which summed up his sentiments about their friendship and Hehn’s life; a sample of his words may well speak for many: “Thank you, Tony, for the fulfilling life you have lived so well and for being a wonderful example to all of us with your life-long dedication and service.”
By Cheryl Hodges [email protected]