100 Year Celebrations

A Veteran's Birthday Wish

In El Paso, Texas, a World War II veteran had a simple wish for his 100th birthday: to receive 100 birthday cards. What started as a modest request from a man who served his country became a community rallying cry. Local news stations picked up the story, and cards began pouring in from across the nation.

The veteran's request touched something deep in the American spirit. Here was a man who had given so much, asking for so little. People responded not just with cards, but with gratitude, memories, and recognition of what his generation sacrificed. His 100th birthday became more than a personal milestone. It became a moment for a grateful nation to say thank you.

The 100 Club: A Town's Tradition

In Hopedale, Massachusetts, the Council on Aging created something special: The 100 Club. It's not an exclusive membership you apply for. You earn it by living a century. The town celebrates each resident who reaches this remarkable milestone, honoring them publicly and creating a sense of shared achievement.

The 100 Club represents more than individual birthdays. It's a community acknowledging that these lives are woven into the town's fabric. These centenarians watched Hopedale grow and change. They raised families there, worked there, built the community. When the town celebrates their 100th birthdays, it's celebrating its own history walking among them.

Other communities have taken notice. The idea of creating formal recognition for centenarians is spreading. Some towns hold annual ceremonies. Others create photo exhibits or oral history projects. The message is clear: reaching 100 deserves recognition, and communities want to honor those who make it.

Celebrate with Al Roker on Today

The Today Show understands that 100th birthdays are national events. Through their "Celebrate Today" segment with Al Roker, families can request birthday wishes for their loved ones turning 100. It's not just about getting on television. It's about sharing the joy of reaching a century with millions of viewers.

Al Roker's warm personality makes these moments special. He doesn't just read names and ages. He celebrates the person, often sharing a bit of their story or what makes them remarkable. For families watching at home with their centenarian, seeing them recognized on national television adds another layer of meaning to the celebration.

The segment has become so popular that families plan viewing parties around it. When their loved one appears on the show, three or four generations gather to watch. The 100-year-old might not fully grasp the technology, but they understand the love in the room. They understand that their century of life is being honored.

A Heavenly 100th Birthday

Not all 100th birthday celebrations happen with the centenarian present. Sometimes families mark what would have been their loved one's 100th birthday, celebrating the life that was lived and the legacy that remains. These "heavenly birthdays" carry their own meaning and weight.

One family recently celebrated what would have been Big Daddy's 100th birthday. They gathered together, shared stories, looked at old photos, and toasted the man who had shaped their family. The celebration was bittersweet, but necessary. It honored not just his life, but the impact he had on everyone who came after him.

A celebration...100 years in the making. Happy heavenly 100th birthday, Big Daddy!

These posthumous celebrations serve an important purpose. They keep memories alive across generations. Great-grandchildren who never met Big Daddy learn his stories. They see the emotion in their grandparents' faces. They understand that 100 years ago, someone was born who would matter to them, even if they never met.

When Icons Turn 100

Some 100th birthdays transcend family and community to become cultural moments. On June 1, 2026, the world will mark what would have been Marilyn Monroe's 100th birthday. She died at 36, yet her impact continues decades later.

Marilyn Monroe's centennial will be celebrated globally. Museums will mount exhibitions. Film festivals will screen her movies. Books will be published. Scholars will reassess her life and work. All of this for someone who never reached 100, but whose influence did.

It raises an interesting question: what does a 100th birthday celebration mean when the person isn't there to experience it? For cultural icons like Monroe, the celebration becomes about legacy and impact. It's a marker of how long their work has endured and how deeply they've shaped culture.

The celebration is also a reminder of what might have been. Had she lived to 100, what else would she have accomplished? What would she think of how the world has changed? These questions can never be answered, but asking them is part of honoring her memory.

Why 100 Matters

Whether it's a veteran in El Paso, residents of Hopedale, a family gathering to remember Big Daddy, or the world preparing to celebrate Marilyn Monroe, 100th birthdays matter. They matter because they mark an extraordinary achievement. Living a century means witnessing incredible change, enduring hardships, and hopefully experiencing much joy.

These celebrations also connect us. When we honor someone's 100 years, we're acknowledging our shared humanity. We're saying that this life mattered, that these experiences count, that longevity deserves recognition. In a world that often moves too fast, 100th birthday celebrations ask us to pause and appreciate the journey.

The traditions vary. Some people want 100 cards. Some towns create special clubs. Some families gather for cake and stories. Some icons are celebrated by millions. But the spirit is the same: recognizing that 100 years is extraordinary, and the people who reach it deserve to be celebrated.