101-Year-Old WWII Vet Serves As Vernon's Memorial Day Grand Marshal

VERNON, CT — Ed Sumski had the seat of honor at the 2024 Memorial Day parade in Vernon Monday. It wasn't the usual seat inside a sleek red vintage convertible because of the rain, but Sumski seemed content inside a white sport utility vehicle and would occasionally stick his heat out and wave to the crowd in Downtown Rockville.

And no one could argue he deserved it.

After all, he turned 101 in February.

He also served in World War II.

In an interview with Patch at his birthday celebration, Sumski said his goal was always to live to 96, which he has now surpassed with vigor.

Sumski was 3 years old Babe Ruth was shipped to The Bronx from Boston. He experienced the Great Depression, and then went off to war.

Sumski was a mechanic for the U.S. Army Air Force in the Pacific Theater in World War II. He spend a lot of time in the Philippines. He made it until the end of the war and said simply, "We worked on all planes and wherever the army went, we were right behind."

Sumski said he was twice aboard ship on his way to invade Japan and twice he was called back because of the atomic bomb, a move that "saved me," he said.

He also is very complimentary toward the Japanese people.

"Nicest and kindest people you'd ever want to meet," he said. "It was hard to believe they were the enemy during the war."

After the war, Sumski put his militaty skills to work for years at Pratt & Whitney.