Parade For 100-Year-Old Darien WWII Vet

DARIEN, IL – Al Purvis, a World War II veteran from Darien, was honored with a parade for his 100th birthday last weekend.

Darien police officers and firefighters drove by his house on Janet Avenue. The procession was organized by Battle Cross Crusaders, which honors veterans in Illinois.

"Our group is comprised of mostly Vietnam and Korea veterans who take great pride honoring other veterans," Battle Cross' Jeff Morlock said in a statement.

Morlock said he met Purvis through Greater Peoria Honor Flight. It is part of a program where veterans are taken to Washington, D.C., to see the memorials in honor of them. Such trips wrap up in a day.

The Honor Flight was in May, documented by Peoria Magazine. In one of the photos, Purvis waved a couple of U.S. flags to an applauding crowd at the Peoria airport.