95-Year-Old WWII Vet, Dick Miller, Among Attendees Of West Aurora HS Assembly

AURORA, IL — Veterans, students and community members gathered Wednesday afternoon for the annual Veterans Day assembly at West Aurora High School.

Dick Miller, a 95-year-old Aurora resident, was among the veterans at the high school's assembly, which started at 1:47 p.m. in the school's main gym. The World War II veteran was a survivor of the USS Drexler, a destroyer sunk in the Battle of Okinawa on May 28, 1945.

Three Japanese suicide bombers attempted to crash into the Drexler during a 90-second attack. It was the third pilot who "barely managed" to crash his damaged plane into the target, according to NavalHistory.org.

Miller, who saluted the assembly crowd when attendees applauded him, was born in Aurora in 1926 and enlisted in the Navy at age 17, right before he graduated from East Aurora High School. He served until his discharge in 1946, after which he returned to be reunited with his loved ones in Illinois, according to reports from the Chicago Tribune.

The yearly high school event honors veterans, current armed forces members and those who died while serving in the military. The event this year was originally scheduled for earlier in the day on Wednesday, but it was postponed to the afternoon to accommodate COVID-19 restrictions, Patch reported.

Here are a few photos from Wednesday's assembly.

Veterans, students and guests salute during the national anthem Wednesday at West Aurora High School’s annual Veterans Day assembly.

A man at the West Aurora High School veterans assembly Wednesday wears a shirt that defines "veteran."

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